Paper short abstract:

This paper focuses on the experiences of children living in joined physical custody. Commuting between homes involves moving things: favourite clothes, the book one currently reads. This paper focuses on the role and meaning of material culture in the experience of living in joined physical custody.

Paper long abstract:

Since 2015 Polish law allows family courts to rule “joint physical custody” of children after parental divorce, meaning the child spends substantial time living with each of the parents, and the both parents have equal responsibility to care for the child.

In a situation of parental divorce - which undoubtedly is a situation of a crisis - the children have to reformulate or at least reflect upon some aspects of family life that before might have been taken for granted, like for example where home is, or is the mother’s new partner also “family”). Commuting between two homes involves moving things: favourite clothes, the book one currently reads etc. This paper focuses on the material aspects of living in joined shared custody - the objects that move and the objects that don't, the objects that are necessary to make one feel at home, and the objects that exist in two homes (beds, toothbrushes etc) - and sheds light on the role of the material culture in the experience of living in joined shared custody.