I’m going to the Midwest Parent Educators Homeschool Conference in Kansas City, MO this weekend. Will you be there? I’m excited because I get to go and hang out with one of my closest friends in the whole wide world. It’ll be a great weekend.
As I get ready for the weekend trip, I keep thinking of the childhood car game where you start with the first letter of the alphabet and say:
I’m going on a trip and with me I’m taking: An Apple.
I’m going on a trip and with me I’m taking: An Apple and a Brush.
I’m going on a trip and with me I’m taking: An Apple, a brush and a Crayon.
You repeat that over and over again until you have taken something from every letter of the alphabet. I used to play that all the time as a kid while we were travelling.
What are my must have items to bring with me to a homeschool conference?
- Comfortable shoes – As I walk around in the vendor hall, my feet get very tired.
- Pen & Paper – for taking notes. Lots & lots of notes!
- Camera – This is the first time my children have attended a children’s conference. They’re so excited!
- Water bottles – A lot of times conferences do provide water, but just in case, I always come prepared so I don’t get too dehydrated!
- Snacks – For me, I always bring a box of granola bars for when I get the munchies. It helps to get me through the afternoon slump! I also plan to bring some snacks to keep the baby entertained and some snacks for the other children when we’re in the car or at the hotel.
- Toys – I’m going to have my 10 month old baby in tow. This could be interesting! I need to pack plenty of things to keep him busy during the sessions. If he cries, I have to get up and leave! I really don’t want to do that.
- A sling or backpack – I may actually revert to the backpack this time. Sounds weird, but for some reason when I put the baby in the front, he is not as content as he is when he’s on my back. I think he gets the urge to nurse more often when he’s on my front.
- My list – I always come prepared with a list of things I’m shopping for. Sometimes, I just want to look at it in person. Sometimes I plan to buy. Either way, it pays to be prepared with a list of things you are wanting to see. This year I know I will buy Explode the Code and probably Apologia. I always look longingly at Teaching Textbooks and then decide I don’t want to spend the money yet and that I can buy it used. We’ll see what else I come up with!
- Money – Wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t have any money. Of course, most of the vendors also take checks and credit cards, but I like to at least have a small amount of cash on hand so that I can cover any smaller purchases.
In addition to my must have list for the actual conference, I have to make sure that the laundry is caught up so that we actually have enough clothes clean to pack for a trip like this. I also need to look through my homeschool books to decide what we’re needing more of. That in itself can be a job! I better get to cracking!