Does Birdnesting Really Work?

As you probably know, children of divorce can face a variety of psychological and emotional challenges. According to Psychology Today, many of these challenges come from a lack of stability, as kids routinely have to shuffle between two separate households. This does now always have to be the case, though.

Birdnesting has been popular with wealthy divorcing couples for years. With this arrangement, your kids never have to leave the family home. Instead, you and your ex-spouse rotate into and out of the residence, allowing each of you to spend some time in the family home with your children.

A Stable Environment

Arguably, the biggest benefit to a birdnesting arrangement is the stable environment it gives your children. By keeping them in your family home, your kids have steady and unchanging surroundings. They also continue to live in a familiar environment.

Financial Considerations

Birdnesting is not available to every divorcing couple, of course. After all, if you opt for this type of co-parenting arrangement, you may have to pay for two separate households: the family residence and the place you live when you are not with your kids. If money is tight, you simply may not be able to pull off birdnesting.

Family Conflict

Additionally, you and your ex-spouse must come up with specific rules for your birdnesting arrangement. These rules may address when each of your moves into and out of the family home. They also may outline who pays for upkeep in the family residence.

Ultimately, if you are looking for a creative way to insulate your children from the potentially catastrophic fallout of your divorce, exploring birdnesting may be advisable.