Divorce Dialogues Episode 202:
Separated parents often worry about the upheaval a divorce causes in their kids’ lives, especially the stress that comes with moving back and forth between two households.
But what if you could give your children the security of staying in the family home?
Nesting allows kids to do just that. And it’s the parents who move in and out.
So, how does nesting work? Is it right for your family?
Beth Behrendt is the author of Nesting After Divorce: Co-Parenting in the Family Home. A freelance writer and single mother of three, Beth has shared her nesting experiences in several national publications, including The New York Times and Psychology Today.
She is also a regular contributor to Divorce Magazine and Laura Wasser’s It’s Over Easy. Beth built Family Nesting to offer advice to other families considering this unique approach to divorce.
On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Beth joins Katherine to explain why she and her ex-husband made the decision to try nesting and how the arrangement benefits their family.
Beth shares her take on nesting temporarily to make the transition to divorce easier, describing what the arrangement looks like for her family and how it’s evolved over the last nine years!
Listen in for Beth’s insight on explaining the nesting situation to a new dating partner and find out if co-parenting in the family home is right for you.
Topics Covered
How nesting allows kids to stay in the family home after divorce
How Beth’s personal experience inspired her to write Nesting After Divorce
Why Beth and her ex-husband made the decision to try nesting
Beth’s take on nesting for a year or two to make the transition to divorce easier
How Beth, her ex and her kids benefit from the nesting arrangement
What the nesting arrangement looks like for Beth’s family (and how it evolved over the years)
How Beth and her ex worked out who was responsible for what, e.g.: shopping, laundry, etc.
Establishing rules re: introducing kids to new dating partners and allowing other adults to the nest
How to explain the nesting situation to a new dating partner
What qualities Beth’s ex has that made nesting work for them
How nesting impacted Beth’s relationship with her ex and how it evolved over time
Why nesting isn’t right for every family but can work for many
Connect With Katherine Miller
The Center for Understanding Conflict
The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller
Email: katherine@miller-law.com
Call (914) 685-9805
Resources
Nesting After Divorce: Co-Parenting in the Family Home by Beth Behrendt
