Birdnesting is different from a traditional child custody schedule. The children live in the same home all the time, and their parents move in and out whenever they have custody. This essentially flips the script from a more traditional custody schedule where the parents would have their own homes and the children would move back and forth.
But is this a viable solution if you and your spouse are going through a divorce with children? Let’s look at some of the pros and cons.
The benefits of birdnesting
On the positive side, birdnesting gives children more stability. This can help them transition into their post-divorce life. They still get to live near their friends or their school. They do not have to go through the chaos of a move, and they do not have to spend as much time on the road being ferried back and forth from one house to the next. It is truly a child-centered custody arrangement.
The downsides of birdnesting
On the other hand, birdnesting is impossible for some couples because there is just too much conflict in their personal relationship. This could make it hard to share chores and other duties around a jointly owned property. On top of that, birdnesting can be very expensive. The parents have to pay for their own homes to live in when they do not have custody, and they have to share the cost of the family home where the children live.
Birdnesting is right for some couples, but not for others, and it helps to show why it is so important to carefully consider your legal options when going through a divorce.