‘Birdnesting’ Is The Latest Divorce Trend
“Birdnesting” is the newest trend sweeping the world of divorces, and like anything it comes with benefits and faults.
By nowproducerdave on April 23, 2018
“Divorce trend” is sort of an awkward thing to say, isn’t it. Anyway, “birdnesting’ is the latest “trend” happening alongside divorces, and I’m not quite sure what to think about it yet. Basically, the children stay in one house, and the parents are the ones who take turns. “Birdnesting” is referencing the way birds come and go from the nest when caring for their young.
It used to be that when parents got divorced, the children would either have to choose who they would go stay with, constantly living out of a bag as they go back and forth between the two parents houses, or got tied up in (though probably didn’t have to attend) court hearings to decide. No matter the case, it’s a big deal for the kids to have to constantly move back and forth every weekend, or every other week – we can only imagine that it’s hard to keep track of things like homework or school projects. “I have this thing due, but I need a couple pieces from dad’s house,” or “mom has the better snacks at her house.”
With birdnesting, the children stay in one house full-time, and the parents come and go. This has some benefits – kids will be able to keep all their things in one location, which may help them keep track of everything. They won’t have to constantly be packing up to travel to a different house for a few days, just to pack up and come back again. Plus being in the same location can allow them to more easily cope with the change in their family’s life. Some downsides though are that the parents must both find a new place to live, while maintaining the main house for the kids. You’re basically buying your kids a house. Obviously if you’ve got cash falling out of your – nevermind, that may not be a big problem, but for the rest of us it’s almost difficult just trying to own one house, nevermind trying to maintain 1.5 of them (per parent).
Another problem with birdnesting is when it comes to splitting costs associated with the “main” house. Plumbing problems, roofing issues, or just general bills. Who pays for what? Is it an even 50/50, or does whomever is staying there at the time handle the one-time things, like plumbing issues, or if a child hits a window with a baseball, something like that. I can see more fights happening there. Anyway, there’s a lot to consider when divorcing, even more than where the family will be living. But if you’re curious, check out some more info on “birdnesting” here.
