Divorced couples are living together — with their new partners — to help take care of the kids and save money

Yahoo

16 hours ago

Three isn't a crowd to Megan Meyer, her husband, Michael Flores, and her ex-hubby, Tyler.
It's just the smartest way to coparent.
But the Gen Zers aren't some trendy throuple. And no, Tyler and Michael are not 'brother husbands' or some other twist on 'sister wives' that would share Megan like a family-style entrée.
Instead, the trio is among the growing number of nonconformist folks who, rather than divvying up mommy and daddy duties after divorce, are putting their past problems aside and happily cohabitating for the benefit of the kiddos — and their wallets.
The platonic threesome lives together, rearing their tots — Megan and Tyler's 3-year-old daughter, Ryann, as well as Megan's 18-month-old son with Michael — under one roof.
'It's a [lifestyle of] convenience,' Megan, 25, a stay-at-home mom from South Carolina, told The Post. 'It brings my daughter's parents into the same house again, and, financially, it just makes sense.'
She and Michael, a project manager, save $1,000 per month by splitting the cost of their 1,800-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bathroom abode with Tyler, 26, who works in law enforcement.
And while it works for this happily unorthodox family, Kerrie Mohr, a NYC relationship therapist of 25 years, warns that the economic, albeit atypical, arrangement absolutely isn't for everybody.
'Both parents must have enough emotional maturity to live with their ex, as well as his or her new partner,' advised the Tribeca-based expert.
The psych pro tells The Post that her practice, A Good Place Therapy, has seen an increase in cohabitating co-parents since the pandemic — especially in Gotham, where it's cheaper to bunk with an ex (even if they do come with a new plus-one) rather than going it alone.
Savings aside, Mohr says the well-being of the children should remain everyone's central concern.
'For this living situation to benefit the kids, all of the adults must be healed from the wounds of their former relationship in order to embark on a new [co-living] relationship,' she advised.
'Setting respectful boundaries, coming up with clear communication strategies and focusing on your 'Why?' are all key for success,' continued Mohr. 'Your 'Why?' is your North Star, the reason you're setting aside your issues and sharing a household with your ex and their new partner.'
For Tyler, Ryann, whom he calls 'daddy's little girl,' is his North Star.
'When Megan and I first split, it was extremely difficult living apart from my daughter,' he tells The Post. 'I spent many lonely nights crying.'
After their four-year marriage ended in 2023, Megan and the baby left the home they shared with Tyler in Tennessee and relocated to California. There, Megan rekindled a romance with Michael, her high school sweetheart. The pair married and soon became pregnant with their son.
But when Tyler couldn't find work or affordable housing in the Golden State, he and the newlyweds agreed to become housemates in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
And despite a bit of bickering between the exes, Michael says their uncommon, yet cozy setup is sweet.
'Megan and Tyler argue like siblings. That'll never change,' Michael teased, noting, however, that he and his wife's former spouse are buds.
'We started playing video games, going to church as a family and eating meals together,' said Michael of his and Tyler's now 'rock solid' connection. 'We became friends by being dads.'
And to avoid any in-house awkwardness, Megan and Michael limit public displays of affection to the privacy of their bedroom. Tyler, who's currently single, refrains from entertaining potential girlfriends in common areas.
Rian Geller, 41, from Houston, Texas, and her wife Tiffany, 42, abided by similar house rules when they, along with their two preteen children, moved in with Geller's ex, Adam, 48, in 2022.
'It was awkward at first,' said Geller, who ended her years-long romance with Adam to marry Tiffany in 2021. Despite their breakup, Adam welcomed the couple, as well as Tiffany's kids, Brianna and Cutter, from a previous relationship, into his four-bedroom, lakefront residence free of charge.
'We all parent the kids together,' gushed Geller, a professional dog walker. She and Tiffany recently moved into their own home — but Adam visits every Sunday for family dinners. 'Adam is the kids' father figure, and he and Tiffany are best friends.'
Cohabitating co-mothers Taylor Marie and Jessi Green, of Alabama, enjoy a similar bond.
Marie, 29, a nurse and mom of three boys, married Green's ex-husband, Taylor Lee, 31, a long-haul truck driver, in 2023.
That June, the pair opted to co-reside with Green, 31, a mom of two girls — including a daughter Anna, whom she shares with Lee — and her new husband, Corey, 32, also a trucker, for the sake of their combined brood of five. The little ones range in age from 10 to 2 years old.
Anna, the blended crew's eldest child, loves her new normal, telling The Post, 'It's really fun because I don't have to switch houses like I used to, and now I'm with my whole family, living with all of my siblings at once.'
Ensuring that the tween, as well as her little sister and three younger brothers, experience a happy, stable childhood is the glue that's bonded the once-feuding adults together.
'Initially, we didn't get along or coparent well,' said Green. She and Lee divorced a decade ago. 'But, with our husbands constantly on the road, they're only home four days each month, we decided living together and raising our kids as one big family would just make life easier.'
And less expensive.
'We evenly split our $4,500 monthly bills, we also share the cost of groceries, school supplies and clothes for the kids,' said Marie.
She and Green routinely give social media fans glimpses into their unconventional setup via their TikTok profile, @CheaperbyTheCoparents.
'We treat all the kids the same,' Marie assured, 'everyone is loved and treated equally.'
'They have four parents, all of their siblings and a huge extended family,' said Green. 'It's all about love and unity.'