Birdnesting is a child custody solution that not everyone can use. Essentially, the parents create a schedule to move in and out of the same house. That is their child custody schedule, and the children just stay in the same house all of the time.
Some families love to do this because it gives the children more stability and it makes the custody situation very easy and comfortable for them. But some couples can’t even imagine doing this because they still have to share a home with their ex and be in close contact, even if they don’t live in the house at the same time.
Why is this better with a collaborative divorce?
This may be a better option for those who are going through a collaborative divorce than for those who are going through a contested divorce. After all, collaboration already means that you have to communicate and cooperate. You have to be willing to work with your spouse. The two of you are in this together as you try to seek the best solution for you and your children.
That’s the exact same mindset that you need for birdnesting. This arrangement can be better for your children, due to the stability and comfort noted above, but parents must know how to cooperate and make it work. They have to pay taxes, do upkeep, clean the home, stick to the child custody schedule, enforce rules and disciplinary actions and much more. Coparents who are able to work together after they get divorced may find this much easier.
If nothing else, birdnesting shows you how many child custody options you have and collaboration shows you why cooperation is so important. Be sure you know what legal steps to take as you move forward.