@amandajro, Thank you so much for responding and for understanding, Amanda.

Our 15 yr old is by far the most "social" of our small clan. From infancy, he never "met a stranger" and his continuing need for interactions with others has been one of his most endearing traits. His very strong "friend" network was both our concern and saving grace as the family moved to a new state a yr before the COVID onset when both g.s.'s began cyber school.

His new neighborhood middle school was geared toward the arts but allowed parents to transport their students to a diff. school for after school football. That allowed him to be with sports boys from other schools and we were delighted when he was chosen to be one of the captains.

The new school district provided a "lottery" for students wanting to go to a different high school and it was a no-brainer and big relief when he was accepted to the high school of choice.

His always strong "friend" network was both our concern and saving grace as the family moved to the new state that first yr. Then came Covid; the choice for cyber school; more isolation and the daily changes all families have experienced this past yr. We have been so grateful that he seems to have taken pretty much in stride the lack of "connection" with other teenagers in the new location and the optimistic "promise" of spring football practice.

The "saving grace" for him has been his continuing close/daily cyber/Zoom connections with his friend network from Evanston and there are plans for summer visits in both locations. I can only imagine his disappointment that surgery instead of football practice is next on the agenda. However, he has proven to be much more resilient than we feared and I am hopeful that his usual optimism will hold him in good stead going forward.

Thanks for the opportunity to share and for me to consider the positives we've witnessed for him since the relocation.