When you filed for a divorce in a Colorado civil court, you understood that the decision would have a significant impact on the daily lives of your children. It is understandable that you would want to cause the least amount of disruption possible and minimize their stress. If you and your ex get along well and are committed to cooperating as co-parents, you might want to consider a bird nest child custody plan.
In a bird nest custody arrangement, a set of parents who have filed for divorce take turns living in the home they shared during marriage. Their children live in the home full-time. This helps children maintain a sense of normalcy and routine following a divorce. Most kids like the idea of not having to move to a new home or go to a new school as they learn to adapt to a new lifestyle.
A child custody plan that doesn’t involve juggling between two households
If you know someone with children who has recently divorced, you might have heard stories about how challenging it is to keep track of the kids’ belongings as they transport everything back and forth between two households. If you choose a bird nest arrangement, you don’t have to worry about this sort of thing. Your children’s belongings will still be where they have always been.
There is no guarantee that a school paper or other important item will never get lost. However, it is less likely for things like this to happen when it is the parents who are coming and going with their belongings, not the kids.
Set boundaries and lay some ground rules
It is best to discuss several important issues before implementing a bird nest custody plan. For instance, even though you will be living there at different times, you and your ex might not want to share a bedroom. If there is extra room in the house, you might consider setting up private quarters for each of you. It is also wise to set some ground rules regarding home maintenance, expenses — such as groceries — and other issues.
Where will you live when you’re not with the kids?
Since you will only be with your children some of the time, you will need a place to live when it is not your turn to have custody. You must decide whether you will buy a second home or rent a place. You might even ask a relative or friend if you can use a spare room in his or her house, which would be less expensive than buying or renting a whole house.
Bird nest child custody is not for everyone. However, if you want to give it a try, you will want to create a thorough and detailed plan. Also, consider setting a deadline, which will be a date when you decide whether to make your bird nest arrangement permanent or come up with another plan if it is not working out.