Co-parenting is a very common custodial arrangement after divorce. In a co-parenting arrangement, both parents share legal and physical custody of the kids. Most commonly, this involves moving the children back and forth between two separate residences.
However, there are many logistical problems inherent with having the kids living in two places. Particularly in California, many families live in high cost of living areas and may not be able to stay in the same neighborhood after a divorce. This can have consequences for the child’s schooling and cause a lot of disruption. In response, more parents are choosing “nesting” as an option to solve these problems.
What is “nesting?”
In a typical co-parenting environment, the children stay at one parent’s house for a predetermined amount of time before going to the other parent’s house. In a “nesting” arrangement, the children stay in one domicile. The parents are the ones who rotate in and out depending on the custodial agreement.
The parents may live with friends or family when they are not on-duty in the family home. In some instances, the parents agree to maintain a separate apartment for the off-duty parent to live in.
Is this sustainable?
In the majority of situations, nesting is temporary. Generally speaking, it is likely that the parents will want to establish their own separate living environment at some point. However, nesting is a great way to ensure that your kids enjoy stability for as long as possible during the divorce process, and potentially after.
However, in some instances, nesting arrangements have lasted for years. It simply depends upon your particular situation and your family goals.
