When parents divorce in California, they have several options on how to approach child custody. One of these options is nesting. Nesting is not the answer for all families. However, some divorced couples make it work, understanding that it is a process that evolves over time.
How does nesting work?
Nesting involves having a family home where the children live full-time while the parents switch in and out, depending on when they are on parenting duty. Nesting has many benefits, including minimal disruption to the children’s lives and saving parents’ money as they do not have to support two full homes where the children only live part-time in each.
How does one divorced couple make nesting work?
Nesting might not look the same for all families, though the basics are the same. The decision to undertake a nesting child custody arrangement should be made after each couple considers certain factors, including:
- Commitment to open communication
- Flexibility about scheduling and other situations
- Willingness to be organized and focused on the best interests of the child
For this family, the parents were sure it was in their children’s best interests to maintain a stable family home where they could continue developing their relationships with both parents. The parents both wanted to have custody of their children, so they agreed to a 50-50 split. However, as one parent had to travel extensively for work, this split had to evolve, giving the other parent more parenting time. Both parents had to be flexible, as their commitment to the children’s stability was the priority. Additionally, as the nesting arrangement evolved, their communication methods also evolved.
While nesting is not the answer for parents who struggle to communicate and get along, it can work for families with strong communication skills and who can be flexible. It can be a short-term or long-term option for child custody.