Apr. 17, 2008 - I Can Hardly Contain My Excitement!
Guess where I'll be one short week from today???
CONVENTION!!!!!!!!!!!
I haven't always gotten so excited about homeschool conventions. In fact for the first three years of my homeschooling adventure I didn't even go. I thought that since I already read tons on homeschooling, I didn't really need to take time away from my then toddlers to go. However at the end of three years, I was actually feeling more than a little burned out. We had just come off a year of having my older two children gone one day out of each week to a special program for gifted children. Plus we'd added a co-op to our schedule. (It finally dawned on me why I was feeling so stressed- trying to cram five days of work into three tends to cause more than a little anxiety!! DUH!!) I also had two toddlers to keep me busy, and I was really searching for ways to keep them involved at their level- there just wasn't enough Mommy to go around. My oldest was finishing up fifth grade, and let's just say that writing was not his thing and leave it at that! I was seriously wondering if he was needing a conventional classroom to provide motivation that I just was seemingly unable to draw out of him. By the end of that crazy year, it was time for some serious soul searching! So convention was one of the things that I felt would offer some insight as to where our family needed- if I could really do this thing called homeschooling.
Right off the bat the keynote speaker totally re-energized my commitment to homeschooling. It was so good to have a reminder of all the reasons we had decided to homeschool in the first place. And of course I was in every single writing workshop offered. (Incidentally, that particular year had more writing than I think I've ever seen in all the years since then.) I think God knew what this mama needed! It was so reassuring to realize that I didn't have to turn out an instant writer by next week! We could take things in steps focusing on only one skill at a time. And it was so enlightening to be able to for once think of it from my child's point of view. Writing is something that always came easily for me. That was not a subject that I had struggled with- there were subjects that were difficult to me, it just wasn't writing! So it was just what I needed to hear others share their experiences of how they had once been the struggling writer and how they had gotten past their difficulties. I came home a new, refreshed woman. My husband couldn't believe I was the same second-guessing, fearful, intimidated woman he'd known a few days earlier. I will forever be thankful that I went to that convention- it literally changed our family.
Since then I've gone to everything my convention has to offer. I consider it my professional development days. But don't think it's all work and no play! It's also my time to have a wonderful couple of lunches with good friends- and I don't mean a picnic at the Nature Center or the park! And for those who are so inclined, there's even a liberal dose of "retail therapy!" You can stock up on curriculum for the next five years! That's not my style though... I always just want to closely scrutinize all my options- to touch them... and feel them... and see them in person, and maybe gab with someone who's actually used them. To me it's kind of like a homeschool curriculum petting zoo. With all this, what more could a girl ask for?
If you haven't gone to your convention or if you're feeling less than pleased with some aspect of your homeschooling, then my advice is to make sure you don't miss convention. It may not meet you exactly at your point of need- I realize it is not a cure-all. However I would be willing to bet (figuratively speaking!!) that it certainly won't hurt!
So...Is convention a big deal to you? Or are you wondering what all the hoopla is all about? I'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts... and at this time of year, 'Tis the Season!
Happy teaching,
Kim
Comments
Apr. 20, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Patiecake
Hope you have a great time at the convention. I have not yet made it to one in our five years of homeschooling but will be going this year. Take care.
Apr. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lahbluebonnet
I didn't go to convention until my 8th year of homeschooling. I didn't go looking for anything. But I was moving away from the box curriculum and getting all new stuff, some of which was at the convention and I could pick it up there. Well, actually only one thing. Another I could order. I could renew my HSLDA there. And see some workshops...mainly the Creationist Science because it was like a field trip. I did attend the IEW workshop after I bought tons of their stuff, to get some first hand experience. It was in a beautiful location and I spent the whole 2 days there. I saw old friends and talked. Then it was moved to the support center's store downtown, park in a dirt parking lot a long way from the building, difficult to carry books through the mess, no restaurants or nice picnic spots...totally inconvenient. Last year I only went to do the HSLDA and pick up more IEW with free shipping. Made one order and bought 2 Discovery Toys and booked it out of there. I ate lunch somewhere else and hit 3 used bookstores which were a lot more fun! This year it is in the same sad place. =( No, I am not at all looking forward to it. It's merely an opportunity to save a couple of bucks on a couple of items. I'm glad you're loving yours though!
Blessings,
Laurie
May. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
As the Mickey Mouse Club groomed the children of the 60s for the 70s revelry cycle so is the Disney-production that is Hannah Montana grooming the children for the next revelry cycle, 2010-2020. The incest photo was a clue.
Similarly, as guitar strumming was a very activity sociable back then so is Guitar Hero the training tool used to gain male interest today.
Osama struck a "deal" with a record company executive in 2007::::With this Democrat in office I suspect we are going to witness an intense revelry cycle like we experienced in the 1970s.
It's children who go to heaven, not old people. Old people became corrupted, fell for temptation and will be reincarnated.
Your children are the ones with the opportunity now. You must sacrifice to give them the best chance possible. You must bravely face god's tests and do the right thing.
