Even when it is the best option, a marital breakup is a major change. As tough as divorce is for spouses, the experience can be traumatic for children. When parents in Illinois separate, it can make their children feel unsettled and even unsafe. One increasingly popular co-parenting method known as birdnesting may provide much-needed stability and a sense of security for children whose parents have separated or divorced.
What is it?
Birdnesting is a term used to describe an arrangement where children remain in the family home while parents rotate living in the home. Many times, the co-parents rotate between the former home and an alternative residence or accommodation, such as an apartment. In birdnesting, it’s the parents who make transitions instead of the children going between parental homes, like a traditional joint custody or co-parenting arrangement.
The benefits
The main benefit to birdnesting is that it provides a more stable environment for the children while ensuring that both parents remain involved in their lives. The kids can remain in the family home, which facilitates feelings of familiarity, security and comfort amid the turmoil of divorce. For parents, birdnesting can reduce household bills and living expenses. The parents often share one apartment or residence that they take turns using while the other parent is with the children.
Help with child custody
Birdnesting is a good arrangement for divorced parents who are willing to work together to provide a stable environment for their children. However, it will not work for all families, so parents in Illinois may want to learn about the different types of child custody arrangements to determine what would be best for their family. Parents who have questions regarding parenting arrangements or any aspect of child custody could benefit by speaking with an experienced family law attorney.