Knights Becoming and a Lady in Waiting

No Longer a Conference Newbie!

It is done.  I am no longer a conference newbie.  As of Friday, I entered the ranks of the initiated... and what an initiation it was!

First, I went with a friend who had volunteered some time, so we had to be certain places at certain times.  Not a bad thing, but one that made logistics interesting on occasion.

Second, I took a nursing infant who had just started trying out the world of solid foods.  Whee.

Third, I didn't sleep much the night before, so I was already a bit short on the z's before I left.

We left at 10:30(ish) on Friday and drove straight to Peoria.  My friend is originally from Peoria, but they've changed things so much that she got a bit... misplaced.  Mind you, I took it all in stride because I always get misplaced, but it did start the day off with a little bit of adventure.

When we got to the conference center, said friend had to run off to do her duties, so I had the whole place to myself (well, figuratively speaking).  Everything had just opened up, so I got a good opportunity to peruse the whole place and figure out what was where and who was what and... well, okay, I never did quite get it all straight. 

Side note: Special thanks to Barbara Frank of the Imperfect Homeschooler for her little newsletter that prepped me for the conference.  I followed it... and it worked!

Okay, so it's time for the first workshop.  Or not.  Just before it starts, we are informed that Todd Wilson isn't going to be able to make it and someone else is in his place.  I am a planner-type, so I figure if I'm not getting the one I signed up for, I'll just take a little more time to look at all the *drooool* curriculum.  (Todd's wife had a baby that night at 9:30-ish p.m., by the way.  Congratulations, Todd, if you ever read this!)

Here's a fun thing.  If you're an introvert, or just a little bit shy, take an outgoing, personable baby to a conference and put her in a front pack.  I got into conversation with, oh, 75% of the vendors because of Princess Moo and her adorable smile.  Since there weren't too many people around (most were in workshops, you know), I got to ask lots of questions and just talk to people like, well, people. 

Okay, so I've used up the 1.5 hours of workshop time and the following 30 minutes of shopping time (I spent that using the restroom and changing a diaper).  It's time for the second workshop.  I am prepared (see above), so I go straight to the room that my workshop is supposed to be in.  I walk in to find there are no chairs left in the back, where nursing mothers have been asked to sit.  Okay, not a problem.  I can stand.  This lasts exactly as long as it takes the speaker to get through her introduction.  (Sorry, Betsy Ray!  That's my daughter squalling at the beginning of your workshop on "Spiritual Disciplines."  It's on the tape I bought, preserved for all posterity.)  Embarassed, I back out and go get some air, fighting tears.  Isn't this what I came for?  I was supposed to be renewed and refreshed by these workshops, not embarassed and ousted (not that anyone but my own internal voice said anything).

I had a brief talk with my mom on the cell phone and another brief talk with God (minus the cell) and decided I'd go back to vendor chatting.  After a while, I started to realize the blessing of not being in the workshops.  I could buy a tape with the workshops on it.  It wouldn't quite be the same, but it would do.  I couldn't buy a chance to handle all the curriculum without other people jostling in to get theirs.  I couldn't purchase one-on-one time with vendors without others waiting as patiently as they could (in the 30 minute shopping periods) to ask their questions.  I couldn't have gotten to know all these people as people, rather than vendors, if I'd been in those rooms with everyone else.

I did, eventually, attend 30 minutes of one workshop (while Princess Moo was dozing) and nearly all of one of the Keynote Speakers as Princess Moo played happily on the floor with an eight-month-old.  I bought the curriculum I wanted, invested in a few things I hadn't intended to buy, and didn't buy a few things I really wanted to buy that weren't in the budget.  I had fun and, although I was very tired by the end (hey, a baby in a front pack for a good part of the day is exhausting!), I don't think my brain felt as overstuffed as it would've otherwise.

Next year, maybe I'll get in to the workshops.  But I think I'll try to find one session I can live without seeing live and miss it, just so I can go talk to the vendors and get to know them (or renew old acquaintances!).  I can always buy a tape. :)

Untitled Comment

12:38 AM, Apr. 11, 2006 .. Posted by Sweetie

Sounds like a pretty normal first conference to me!
I learned, after the first conference, that the workshops weren't as important as actually handling the materials. The workshop information I could find on-line, get from knowledgeable friends, and listen to the tapes (or dvd's). The material I needed to touch, feel, look at, etc. You've learned well. I have a very personable young one, too. I completely understand how they draw out the shy mommy and engage them into unexpected conversations! It's been a good thing for me, I hope it has been for you, also.