Here's one that's new to me. From today's Chicago Tribune:

Although money can't shield children from the emotional impact of a divorcing couple, it does make possible an unusual custody arrangement that can soften the blow. It's called "bird nesting": The kids stay put in the house they've grown up in. Mom and Dad move out, and each one takes turns living in the family home three or four days at a time as they share the parenting load.

That must be for the affluent. Both parents would need their own home, and then there'd be a home that they share.

Nah, Kalleh, the husband sleeps in his car (a Yugo) the rest of the time.

Or if it were amicable, they could share the second home.

That would be creative. I can't imagine, with house prices what they are, having three of them.

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Originally posted by Kalleh:
That would be creative. I can't imagine, with house prices what they are, having three of them.

That would be wasteful. Why does not Dad do what he's always done i.e. like me, sleep in the garden shed, or if he's very affluent in the greenhouse?

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Or if it were amicable, they could share the second home.

What a great idea. Good creative thinking, wordmatic!

I suspect garden sheds are more common in England. We often use our garage for storing our garden equipment, too.

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Or if it were amicable, they could share the second home.

Call me old-fashioned, but this seems to defeat the purpose of a divorce.

Despite its 83,000+ ghits, "amicable divorce" does seem to be a bit of an oxymoron, doesn't it?

If only I had enough money for a garden shed!

Asa the impecunious

quote:

Originally posted by shufitz:
Despite its 83,000+ ghits, "amicable divorce" does seem to be a bit of an oxymoron, doesn't it?

What? You've never had a lover say, "Let's just be friends?"

Asa the oft rejected

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Call me old-fashioned, but this seems to defeat the purpose of a divorce.

My thoughts precisely, neveu. What happens when one, or both, remarry? It seems like a forumula for disaster to me.

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If only I had enough money for a garden shed!

Asa is spoofing all of you. I saw his lovely backyard with a beautiful waterfall. We all sat serenely outside recently on a gorgeous day, feeling the light breeze, hearing the birds sing, and generally feeling as though we were in heaven. Asa is far too modest.

Waterfall? Hell, Kalleh, that was the uphill neighbor's broken sewer pipe! It does sound lovely every time she flushes, however.

Not having ever lived through such a situation, I can see I was thinking in a la-la land sort of way. More likely the divorced parents are crashing with their new significant others on their "off" days, or crashing with friends, siblings or their own aging parents, and in all cases, whomever they live with when not back home with the kids will soon feel very imposed upon.

Bird Nesting may be easier on the children, but it's not very realistic and doesn't do anything to help the children adjust to the actual reality that their parents are divorced.

WM

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Bird Nesting may be easier on the children, but it's not very realistic and doesn't do anything to help the children adjust to the actual reality that their parents are divorced.

WM

Be that as it may, I see it as grist for a Neil Simon play!

quote:

Originally posted by Asa Lovejoy:
Be that as it may, I see it as grist for a Neil Simon play!

Well sure, what the heck?

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Waterfall? Hell, Kalleh, that was the uphill neighbor's broken sewer pipe!

You are a crazy man! It is a very nice waterfall, with a soothing sound, that flows into a pond with goldfish. Where is Sunflower when we need her? She will agree with me. Your gorgeous backyard was impressive, Asa.

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Bird Nesting may be easier on the children, but it's not very realistic and doesn't do anything to help the children adjust to the actual reality that their parents are divorced.

Wordmatic, I agree with you completely.

All very serious and speculative. Don't forget the Wilde comment: Woman begins by resisting a man's advances and ends by blocking his retreat.

She might block the exits of the nest.

Or she might be pushing him out of the nest so as to welcome a more enjoyable companion!

I can't imagine the nesting thing working for very long. I have, though, seen families successfully share custody with each parent taking the kids for half of each week. The kids have just had two complete spaces that are their own, and they have become relatively good managers of their own backpacks (in regards to school work and so forth).

Many women I've known, Pearce, aren't as Wilde said; they motion, "Come hither" with one hand and "Go away!" with the other.

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Many women ... motion, "Come hither" with one hand and "Go away!" with the other.

Why does a man take it for granted that a girl who flirts with him wants him to kiss her--when, nine times out of ten, she only wants him to want to kiss her?
~ Helen Rowland

[It is a very nice waterfall, with a soothing sound, that flows into a pond with goldfish. Where is Sunflower when we need her? She will agree with me. Your gorgeous backyard was impressive, Asa.
[/QUOTE]

It really was lovely! Last week we removed all the fish (about 50 of them) and found them new homes, since the pond seems to have developed a leak. We're going to re-landscape it in the Spring, and it will be more beautiful than ever. As for the garden shed, I'm holding out for a big BARN on acreage!

Nice to see you, Sunflower. We've missed you! Sorry about your leak, but at least you validated my praise. Your hubby is too modest.

quote:

Originally posted by Asa Lovejoy:
Many women I've known, Pearce, aren't as Wilde said; they motion, "Come hither" with one hand and "Go away!" with the other.

Many I have known have done that simultaneously, sometimes just using the one hand.