When homeschoolers move on to something else

There aren't a ton of homeschoolers in my part of the state, especially in my town with its "good public schools". So, when I first started homeschooling, I remember keeping track of everyone I met because it made me feel better to have a circle of people who had all chosen this not-very-popular way of educating their kids.

But, lately, it feels like more and more of them are choosing a different path, and it's made me a little sad to see them go.

There is the awesome friend and new neighbor who moved to my town---my town!---but then decided to try out those good public schools. There is the wonderfully supportive friend whose oldest just got into the local charter school and started today. There is the well-known radical unschooling mom whose teen decided to try out school this year. Another mom I know just sent her oldest to private school. And then there are friends who are trying a public-school-sanctioned virtual learning course, with a teacher overseeing their progress.

This all doesn't mean that a bunch of people have decided that homeschooling sucks or doesn't work or is too hard. I know they all had to do a lot of soul-searching and had to think of their child's wants as much as their own. And, for those who are my friends, I know we will still remain friends, no matter how their kids get educated.

But, I'm sad that my circle seems to be shrinking, just a bit.