Three parents share family life across two homes in Eno

A mother, her current partner and her ex-husband share childcare and daily family life across two neighboring homes in Eno, Joensuu, Yle reports. The household includes seven children, ranging in age from five to their thirties.

Janna Jalovaara lives with her partner, Veli-Pekka Timonen, in a terraced house. Her former husband, Petri Jalovaara, lives a few doors away in the same building. The children move between the homes as needed, and both fathers help care for them regardless of biological parentage.

Janna and Veli-Pekka began their relationship seven years ago. Veli-Pekka quickly took on a major role in caring for Janna and Petri’s three children, then aged five, nine and 11. He had previously lived alone and was an employee at a company in which Janna and Petri were shareholders.

Petri says he quickly became confident that Veli-Pekka would take good care of his children. He sees having several caring adults in their lives as a positive thing.

Janna and Veli-Pekka’s son, Onni, was born five years ago. Petri considers him a bonus child, on equal footing with his other children, and spends time with him without taking primary responsibility for his upbringing.

The adults arrange childcare around work and other commitments. Petri looks after Onni when Janna and Veli-Pekka need to go out without a young child, while Veli-Pekka cares for the children when Janna and Petri work evenings or weekends. Janna and Petri work as youth workers for a parish, and Veli-Pekka is a school assistant.

The extended family now sees each other almost daily. But institutions do not always recognise their arrangement: the school previously sent messages to only one of the fathers.