At mum’s place, at dad’s place, at home. How children “do family” in joint physical custody arrangements

Abstract

Joint physical custody of children (JPC) after parental separation or divorce is a new phenomenon both in the Polish legal system and in the everyday practices of Polish families. While the number of couples who decide to share childcare equally after separation is growing, there is still no definition of JPC in Polish law and children who live in two homes are considered at risk of harm. The article presents findings of ethnographic research conducted with Polish children and teenagers who live in joint physical custody. It discusses how children who live in two homes do family and how they make sense of the efforts needed to successfully navigate frequent movement between their two homes. The article focuses on the practices and everyday life of children. It shows that children are not helpless subjects of their parents’ choices but competent actors who creatively navigate and make sense of their family lives.