Saying Goodbye

For the last two years we have been honored to belong to an awesome homeschool co-op. I taught literature to a group of teenagers for two years and Grace and Sam were able to do all the art and science projects I just didn't have the energy to do at home.  We have belonged to several different co-ops over the years, but this was the one that really became our home.

This is Grace and a couple of friends displaying their end of year art (the giant scribbled thing does not belong to any of them, it was left over from a different class).

With the decision to send Grace and Sam to public school next year, we had to say goodbye to all our friends. While I am ready to have all my kids in public school, leaving this awesome support structure has been hard. We have all made friends that have truly enriched our lives. Grace has cried a lot of tears over going to public school, and they have all been about leaving co-op.

I'm going to miss the awesome teens I taught. I have taught the same group for the last two years, and have gotten to really know and love the kids. I almost cried when I said goodbye to them, and they almost cried in return. Several times in the last year my lit class has been the one bright spot I looked forward to in an otherwise dark and hard week. I also made so many great friends who helped me stay sane and keep a healthy perspective, something that can easily get skewed when I rarely get a break from mothering and teaching. 

These are the three girls Grace is going to miss the most. Thankfully, her very best friend (Claire, wearing the white hoodie) also does swim team at the same pool as us. Grace signed up this year primarily so she could spend more time with Claire. She currently gets to see her almost every day of the week. It will be hard for both of them when school starts again.

I promise Sam had great friends as well, but trying to take a picture of boys when there is a skate park calling is an impossible task. I was lucky to get one of Sam.

I am excited for my kids to try public school. They can participate in orchestra, choir, and sports. Things I could facilitate, but simply do not want to do. I think they are ready for the next big adventure!