Bird-nesting can be tough for divorced parents. To do it, the parents make a custody schedule and move in and out of the home, while the kids stay in the home all the time. This means parents have to cooperate a lot more than they would with other agreements, almost as if they were still married. However, some say it’s worth the work because of the following advantages:

1. It creates a stable home for the kids. They get a fairly standard living situation that is not stressful or confusing.

2. It’s cost effective. One woman said the home she owned was great for kids, with a lot of open land, and she never could have afforded it if she was the only one paying the bills. By splitting things with her ex, she was able to keep a perfect home for her children.

3. It helps both parents actually remain involved in the children’s lives. With other arrangements, they may see Mom far more than Dad or the other way around.

There are difficult parts to this arrangement. One woman said she and her husband had to communicate at a high level, especially about things like dating. They had to give up some freedoms that they otherwise would have–for example, they both said they wouldn’t bring their dates home.

However, if the goal is to create the best possible atmosphere for the kids, many couples think that this is the way to do it. If you’re interested, be sure you know what legal steps to take in Maryland to set up an official arrangement.

Source: Dr. Psych Mom, ” Birdnesting After Divorce: Guest Post,” Samantha Rodman, accessed May 12, 2016