Divorce can pose difficulties for everyone involved, but often the ones most affected are the minor children. Though they have no say in the proceedings and their aftermath, they suddenly find their lives swept up in a whirlwind of upheaval at an age when they are already vulnerable and not fully emotionally developed.
The break in their family can have a significant impact on their psychological state. While it may not be possible to prevent the divorce from affecting children in any way, there are ways to ease their adjustment, including nesting.
What is nesting?
One major change children face in a divorce besides their parents’ actual breakup is having to travel back and forth between two households. This may leave them feeling like a perpetual drifter without a real home. There is also the stress and exhaustion associated with having to pack everything and move all the time. Nesting helps avoid this. The parents take turns staying in the family home with the children, so they retain the burden of constant moving, while the children retain some sense of stability and security in a suddenly unshaky world.
Is nesting always the right answer?
Whether or not nesting works depends on each family’s situation. It is different for every set of parents. While it may work for some, others have factors like jobs in far locations that may make this a more difficult option. Parents must consider nesting on a case-by-case basis. It also does not have to be permanent. They may choose to nest only until the children reach a certain age or level of acceptance.
Nesting allows children to have the comfort of familiar surroundings after divorce. However, it may not work in every co-parenting situation.
