A View from the Nest: An Insider Perspective on the Upsides to Birdnesting with Special Guest, Beth Behrendt on The Divorce & Beyond Podcast with Susan Guthrie, Esq. #135

In this episode, Susan Guthrie speaks with Beth Behrendt, a divorced mother to three boys who has successfully followed a nesting custody arrangment with her ex for six years about how the arrangement has helped to make her restructured family stronger than ever! When parents are facing separation and/or divorce, they often assume that establishing two separate households that their children will move between is a pre-ordained conclusion.  But what if that isn't the case?  What if your children's lives could continue almost without change, and the parents could be the ones to make the move?  That is "birdnesting" and for guest, Beth Behrendt and her family, the arrangment has been the key to their success as a new type of family following the divorce six years ago!  Amazingly, Beth's three boys have never left their family home as Beth and her ex have moved in and out of the home to parent them.  Along the way, Beth has discovered that there are several upsides beyond the lack of disruption to her children's lives that come from the nesting arrangment that make it even more appealing.  She shares all of these upsides, and some of the downsides to be aware of, in this eye-opening episode! More about this week's Special Guest:  Beth Behrendt is a freelance writer and mom to three boys and has been nesting with her ex for almost six years. Since the couple first separated, their sons have never left the family home -- Bill and Beth take turns moving in and out to parent them. Nesting has made them a stronger, happier family than ever before. You can contact Beth and find out more here: Website #1 familynesting.org Website #2 bethbehrendt.com Social Media Handles  IG @bethbehrendt 775Twitter @familynestingTwitter @bethbehrendtFB @familynestingFB @writerbethbehrendtLinkedIn Beth Behrendt Get a copy of Laura Wasser's book, "It Doesn't Have to be That Way," mentioned by Beth in this episode,on Amazon! Get a copy of Ben Heldfond and Nikki DeBartolo's book, "Our Happy Divorce" mentioned by Susan in the episode, on Amazon and listen to the special two-part episode of The Divorce & Beyond Podcast with Ben and Nikki here: OHD Episode One OHD Episode Two  ******************************************************************************************** SUSAN GUTHRIE, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  She is one of the Co-Chair's of the American Bar Association's DR Section Mediation Committee and is the Founder of Divorce in a Better Way which provides a curated selection of resources and information for those facing divorce and other life changes.  Susan has created a website of curated resources for those facing divorce.  Find out more at www.divorceinabetterway.com. ***************************************************************************** THE LEARN TO MEDIATE ONLINE ACADEMY:  www.learntomediateonline.com LEARN TO MEDIATE ONLINE:  THE LEARN TO MEDIATE ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAM IS NOW AVAILABLE AS AN ONLINE COURSE!!  As one of the leading online mediation experts in the country, Susan Guthrie has created a simple and efficient online training program that allows mediation professionals to quickly and easily add an online platform to their practice!  The two hour online program covers the basics of conducting mediations through an online platform like Zoom, and reviews the ethical and practical considerations that arise in this format.  You even receive a copy of, and the right to use, Susan's Online Mediation Guidelines and Ground Rules to make your online mediations even easier for mediator and clients alike!  More than 15,000 professionals have benefited from one of Susan's trainings!  You can find the program at https://learntomediateonline.teachable.com/p/learn-to-mediate-online-training-program or just go to the website www.learntomediateonline.com! Also available at the LTMO ACADEMY:  Socia