Divorce is a stressful, challenging time for you and your entire family. You may be wondering how you can best mitigate its effects on your children. Some parents utilize an arrangement known as “nesting” whereby the children remain in the house and parents take turns moving in and out.
According to NBC News, here are some of the pros and cons of nesting.
Advantages of nesting
Probably the biggest reason to consider nesting is that it maintains a sense of normalcy for your children. Staying in their own home preserves the status quo since they have everything that they need around them. Your child does not need to remember which house currently holds the ice hockey equipment or violin. Local friends and schools are nearby and the rhythm of day-to-day life remains the same for your kids.
Another advantage of a nesting arrangement is that there is flexibility, giving you time to make choices. You and your ex might choose to share an off-premises apartment that you occupy when it is not your designated time to be with the children. Sometimes people even convert part of their regular home into a completely separate apartment.
Disadvantages of nesting
One major con of nesting is that it requires parents to have good communication skills between them. If you and your ex cannot handle matters without arguing, nesting is unlikely to work for you. Nesting is most successful when parents remember that they are putting the children first.
Another negative aspect of nesting is that it may be confusing to the adults and children involved. You may not feel like you are moving forward in your life. It may be unsettling to not have the same place to sleep each night. While experts note that this is one of the disadvantages of nesting, you may find that it works well for your family as a short-term transitional option.