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!

If you’re a homeschooler, what is in your Homeschool Conference Survival Kit?