[Adventure] in Letting Go

[Adventure 130]

There was a group of people that would gather on Fridays during the school year to learn, to grow, to express themselves, and to be themselves. There were neurodivergent children and teens; LGBTQIA+ children and teens; chronically ill students; students who preferred academics and those who preferred theater and art; families from varying socioeconomic backgrounds. Sometimes we all got along and sometimes there was discord in our motely bunch of families, but we always worked through things together. 

Unfortunately, the space that hosted our homeschool co-op is no longer willing to do so. So we're sad. 

We're sad for many reasons, the greatest of which is that we were a unique bunch of people and that particular unique space was perfect for us. We're sad that the organization that hosted us couldn't see past issues our group has had in the past (and since worked out), and failed to communicate the issues they perceived as well as logistical issues with us. We're sad that they aren't willing to work out a way for us to safely and harmoniously continue to gather in the future. We're sad that we have to let go of something that helped so many neurodivergent and/or chronically ill youth feel seen, heard, respected, and at home. 

Letting go is difficult. We've had to let go of so many things during this global pandemic, and I think for many of our homeschooled kids, looking forward to co-op and seeing their friends there was what helped them through it all. 

Of all the lessons this pandemic has had to teach us, besides loss, letting go has been most difficult for some. We've had to let go of seeing people we love; doing things we love to do; and even our very idea of what normal is or means. We've let go of stuff that's cluttering our houses and our lives. We've let go of relationships that aren't serving us well and activities we once considered vital and now discover were just more clutter. 

Now my children have to come to terms with letting go of homeschool co-op as we knew it. Nevertheless, we move forward in hope of finding other ways to connect with and perhaps learn with our friends.