Figuring out family dynamics during a divorce can be challenging as each family has specific needs. One of the options that some Missouri parents whose marriage has come to an end might consider is nesting.
What is nesting?
When families choose the nesting arrangement, their children remain in the family home while the parents are the ones who move in and out, depending on when they have time with the children. When a parent is not on-duty with their children, the parent might go to their own rented apartment or room or even an apartment shared by both parents.
The benefits of nesting
As parents navigate separation and divorce, nesting provides a variety of benefits for both children and parents. For the children, these benefits include:
- Stability
- Safety
- Consistency
- The continued presence of one parent at a time
- A chance to adapt slowly to the end of their parents’ marriage in the safety of the family home
For the parents, nesting provides an environment that is low-stress so they can focus on raising healthy, happy, balanced children. Because the children’s well-being is the primary concern for parents, nesting provides a solution to this concern and allows the parents to make more focused decisions.
Creating a nesting plan
For nesting to work, parents must create a nesting plan that addresses their family’s unique circumstances. Since the children will be staying in the family home and the parents will be rotating out, the nesting plan, which includes the parenting plan, parenting schedule, budget for the family home and other important family-related factors, needs to be created in good faith with realistic agreements as part of it.
There are several options available to parents as they consider or seek a divorce. Nesting is one that can work for many families, short term, such as until the divorce is finalized, or long term, such as through the years as children grow.