But...
I thought I'd take a few minutes to be blatantly transparent about what attending an out-of-town homeschool convention can be like for a family of six. {Hint: It ain't all grins & giggles...}
In fact, if I were completely honest, I would have to say that I actually believe that Satan himself was working overtime to try to keep us from going or at the very least trying to make us miserable while we were there!?! LOL
*If you leave any packing for the day of departure... it will cause you to be behind schedule...
*If you think you might be able to make it across the state line, where the gas is cheaper, before you fill up... you will run out of gas...
*If you take 2 toddlers in to a keynote address by a man that your older 2 kids really wanna hear (Ken Ham) you will be pulling 2 overtired toddlers out of that keynote address about halfway through...
*If you call the hotel and request an early check-in... you will end up checking in at about 7:30 that night...
*If your husband takes the baby with him on a little jaunt to Walmart 'cuz you need a coupla things & she won't sleep... she will throw up on herself... in the car seat... on the way back...
*If the second day of the Convention starts off really well... even including meeting friends that you've only ever known online for lunch... 2 toddlers will publicly meltdown simultaneously, forcing your surrender and causing your husband to retreat to the hotel with them...
*If you have the opportunity to meet the Rev. Dr. Voddie Baucham following one of his workshops, you will forget to use either Rev. OR Dr. when you address him, making yourself feel like a idiot!
*If you manage to get back to the hotel before the pool closes, the kids will know it and will want to swim, even though all you want to do is sleep!
*If you try to carry on a conversation with an uber-intelligent author (Israel Wayne) your children {well, at least the ADHD one} will hijack your camera to spin around with...
But...
*If you survive all of those little speed bumps that seem to pop up out of no where, you will head home with tons of notes... an uplifted spirit... a re-encouraged will to homeschool... new ideas... new books(!) and memories that will help you push on through any homeschool burnout that you might be feeling. ;-)
There is no doubt in my mind, that attending a local or regional homeschool convention is worth every penny of money you have to spend to get there and worth every inconvenience you must overcome to stay there. :-)
