From fortresses to open islands: Negotiating time, space, and material flows between parental homes in shared residential arrangements

Abstract

This article examines how separated parents establish boundaries between their respective households when sharing physical custody of their children. Framed through the metaphor of an archipelago, each parental home is conceptualized as an ‘island’, capturing how children navigate life across two distinct yet interconnected households. Drawing on interviews with 21 Belgian children (aged 10–16) from 17 families, we propose a typology of five parental ‘islands’: (a) ‘fortress island’; (b) ‘cocoon island’; (c) ‘reef island’; (d) ‘open island’; and (e) ‘wild island’. Each island has its own characteristics and properties in which specific and distinct practices and subcultures can develop. While tensions between islands can—and often do—exist, this does not prevent children from experiencing home as a unified whole grounded in their sense of belonging and familiarity. Our typology serves as a conceptual tool for family law and mental health professionals to help families reflect on and improve their co-parenting arrangements post-separation.