Ahhhh!!! I wasn’t going to go this year and the only reason I would go is to see her speak! I always get sucked into looking at other material that is not of interest yet interesting to buy for sake of the shiny package! I can’t wait to see her…just the encouragement I needed!
SCM was the only reason my friend and I went last year……and it IS a great convention. We’re planning to go again (and again, as long as SCM is there!!! *L*)
Terms – I think if I were you, I’d decide on a starting date. (We like to start July 1, just because we can.) Figure out where you need off (family vacation, when you think you’ll need a break, birthdays, etc.). Then start counting on your calendar. When you hit day 60, that’s the last day of term 1. Do the same for Terms 2 and 3.
I don’t like to plan that way, because i get all bogged down at how “behind” we are. So we just try to do all the school we can and take off when we have to.
I don’t take my girls. They’re 9,7,6,4 – older children would probably be okay.
I guess I’m sort of selfish – this is the one day a year I hire a babysitter, expect the sitter to do all the meal prep, etc. (I pay her really good – it’s more than an 8-hr. shift for her). I want to go, be silent when I want to be, talk when I want to, talk about what interests me (school!!!) and not deal with the fighting, whining, arm-tugging, hungry, thirsty troubles that accompany children.
They do have children’s programs. But mine are rather shy and wouldn’t let me out of their sight in such a huge building with so many strangers around.