One of the most difficult aspects of divorce tends to be the child custody process. It is likely that you and your ex-spouse will need to share legal and physical custody of your children after divorce.
Even if you and your ex-spouse are on reasonably good terms, shuttling the children between two separate living situations can be very difficult. In response to these difficulties, some divorced families are opting into a nesting situation, at least temporarily. According to Psychology Today, nesting involves the children staying in a single house and the parents moving in and out rather than moving the children between two houses.
How is this beneficial?
Many families find themselves in an unofficial nesting situation, anyway. Particularly at the beginning of divorce, it is likely that the spouses need space from each other but since they have no comprehensive plans yet, they do not want to disturb their children’s lives.
Nesting can also help families stay in expensive areas. Particularly if both parents work and they will be unable to maintain independent households in a pricey neighborhood, nesting may be the only way to keep the children in the same school district with the same friends.
How long does it last?
This depends on your situation. Generally, nesting tends to be more on the temporary side since it is common for parents who want to set up their own independent households at some point. However, some nesting situations have gone on for years or even decades.
However, you and your ex-spouse have to be willing to continue to commit to run the family home. He will still be splitting chores and monetary commitments. Thus, nesting only tends to work when the ex-spouses are still on good terms.