As we’ve entered November and are approaching Thanksgiving, it’s always nice to pause and think about the things in life we’re truly grateful for. This unseasonably warm weather has been welcome and has allowed for an abundance of outdoor activities! At the co-op, it’s so fun to see the children in the morning class peeling off their coats when on the playground.
I’m grateful for the community I’ve found at the co-op. Getting to know other parents and families has been one of my favorite things and so rewarding. Being surrounded by other moms and dads who just “get” the rough mornings of asking kids to get their shoes on 800 times, or “get” the debate of keeping your child home if they coughed 6 times that morning, has been so validating for me as a parent. Sometimes parenting can be really hard and you feel lost. Parenting through a pandemic brought on additional challenges I didn’t know I’d face or even fully realize while I was in the midst of it.
But coming out of those tough years and entering into a welcoming, open, supportive community has been beneficial for me as an individual as well as for my family as a whole. I’m happy my son has the opportunity to play, collaborate, and work out differences with his peers in class. I’m happy I have other parents to commiserate with and provide support. I feel the support out in the community, whenever I see a “co-op mom” at Starbucks, at elementary school pickup, or at the park. I wasn’t expecting to feel these connections so deeply, but the sense of community has been irreplaceable as I navigate the struggles and successes of parenting.
I’m thankful to our wonderful board members who navigate literally everything at the co-op. These are parents who volunteer huge amounts of their time to make things run smoothly and create a warm atmosphere for all of our kids. I cannot express enough my appreciation to these parents for donating their time and efforts so that my child can have a positive experience. They are the behind the scenes MVPs and I want each of them to know how much they are appreciated.
I’m also grateful for the teachers and the support they provide. Being able to have an easy, relaxed conversation about my son’s speech, or his interactions with other kids has eased my mind on several occasions. Parenting comes with a lot of questions and unknowns and being part of an entire community that understands has been huge for me. I’m certain that many of these connections will last beyond our years at the co-op for both me and my kids. I’m grateful for all the wonderful people that make the co-op feel like a true community.
Mrs. Holly leads one of her classes in a fun gym activity