When parents decide to divorce, figuring out the right custody plan for their kids can be hard. One option, called ‘birdnesting,’ is different from most. With birdnesting, the children stay in the family home while the parents take turns living there based on their custody schedule. This arrangement helps kids stay in one place, keeping their routines, school, and friendships the same.
How does birdnesting work?
Birdnesting lets kids remain in the family home while parents rotate in and out during their custody time. Instead of moving kids between homes, the parents either share another place to stay or live separately. This plan keeps life stable for kids and reduces big changes to their daily lives.
What are the benefits of birdnesting?
Birdnesting helps kids feel secure because they stay in a familiar place, close to their friends, school, and activities. For parents, it can make sharing custody simpler by cutting down on the stress of moving kids back and forth. It also helps parents ease into co-parenting while keeping the family home as a shared space.
What are the challenges of birdnesting?
Even though birdnesting helps kids, it can be hard for parents. They need to work together and avoid arguments about how to manage the home. Keeping up multiple homes can also cost a lot of money. In Ohio, courts will only approve this plan if it’s safe and stable for the kids. Parents may need help from a family lawyer to decide if birdnesting will work for them.
Birdnesting isn’t the right fit for every family, but it can work well for some. Parents should carefully think about what will help their children the most when deciding on custody plans.