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I have returned from one of my favorite weekends of the year - our annual homeschool convention. My husband and I have two long days together browsing, discussing, listening to great speakers, having meals with friends, and just getting away and getting refreshed.

This convention was especially nice since I have already made my decisions with HOD and what I am using next year. What freedom!! I kept feeling sorry for all those people looking like deer caught in headlights as they considered which of the hundreds of things out there they were going to spend their hard-earned money on. In fact, one total stranger turned around while we were in a lunch line and said, "Are you here for the homeschool convention? Well, what curriculum do YOU use?" She didn't know me one bit and was asking me for my advice and she was panicked! Of course I told her about HOD (but she wasn't ready to really hear about it).

I kept looking for HOD materials in all of the booths (over 400 of them!!) and finally found one booth that had a few HOD manuals stuck on a shelf. I felt really sad that HOD was not available for people to see and look at because I just KNOW they would love it. Of course, one of the things I love about HOD is that it is not a major marketing machine like so many other curricula out there.

All that to say that I so appreciate Carrie's heart to keep her family first and not sacrifice that so they can be out on the road selling their wares - BUT - if you ever do decide that you want to have some volunteers manning a booth for you in Indianapolis (one of the best and largest conventions ), please let me know. I would SO love to represent you and give others the chance to discover what they are really missing!!

And I wasn't tempted one bit by all of the bright and beautiful stuff out there. I am so thrilled with HOD and so I must say thank you once again, Carrie, for employing the gift that God has given you.

HappyatHome
dd - 10
ds - 8
dd - 8

Well, you do sound Happy at Home with HOD!

Believe it or not, I have never been to a homeschool convention!
Last year, my son participated in the Florida statewide graduation ceremony in Orlando. It is held during the big homeschool convention.

I was only there for one day for and I felt overwhelmed! I have heard many good things about the convention, dont get me wrong, but if I was a newbie and walked into that sea of people and choices......I probably would have cried!!

There are so many choices for curriculum and styles of learning!! I think there are too many choices sometimes.

It is that convention time of year, so I think we should remember to pray for new and old homeschoolers who are feeling so overwhelmed and cant make up their minds what to use! Sadly, most of us do or at one point have had a judgmental family member commenting on our curriculum or teaching style and it makes our choice even harder! YOu already feel insecure and criticism doesnt help!! You do fall prey to the pretty packages and neat,colorful textbooks. Everything looks so educational and like real school!

I am so thankful that I had a very laid back homeschooler to guide me in my first few years! I didnt even want to homeschool! My husband made me!! But, after one year,I taught my son to read and write and thought...this is fun and I CAN do it!!!

I am getting the word out about HOD as much as I can. I think it would be a wonderful curriculum for a new homeschooler to use....or even an old one!

Ruth

Over 400 booths????????
The one that used to be 2 hours from our house had about 50 booths and cost $25 to get in the door! You were allowed 3 1/2 hours then the doors closed. Then there was the one in LA a bit farther away that may have had 100 booths.
Over 400 booths???????? After 8 years of hsing *I* would be like a dear in headlights!! I got an invitation to the Pensacola book fair, but it is about 6 hours away. I wonder how many booths it has? Maybe it is best that I canNOT go. Hehe.

Yep, it's hard to believe, isn't it??? Lots of the booths are not for curriculum, but for add-on stuff, toys, crafts, hobbies, art, music, colleges, worldview, used books, etc. If you aren't careful, you can feel really guilty for all the stuff that you are NOT doing... This year was great for me as I just enjoyed looking at stuff, but had no guilt factor at all.

Ruth, I did cry my first year there. It was horrible. I was so overwhelmed, I thought I would just crash and burn. I ended up using SL because that is what everyone else used that I knew. I have learned a lot since then and been through lots of stuff - which is why I am so excited about HOD. You are so right that we do need to pray for those first-timers, for their wisdom and discernment and that they wouldn't give up in the face of these countless choices. I do think there are way too many choices. The verse from Ecclesiastes (12:12) kept going through my mind about there being no end to the writing of books... That is the truth! It is really neat to hear that you have never been to a convention and have so successfully hs'ed your children. What a testimony that we really DON'T need all that stuff they are trying to sell you! Thanks for sharing that.

The reason I enjoy the convention so much is the speakers. They are different every year and address different topics. I know to avoid the ones that I know will make me feel like a failure and focus on the ones that will bring me encouragement. For instance, this year, I learned about Accelerated Distance Learning and heard from people who got a bachelor's degree from home in two years or less for under $10,000. Talk about encouraging! My oldest is only 10, but I am starting the research into this kind of stuff, so I won't be overwhelmed when the time comes. I also heard an excellent speaker on family finances and left encouraged and with some good ideas. My husband heard a great talk on father-son relationships, etc. Oh, yeah, and did I mention time alone with my husband...

Correction!! I'm sorry I misstated things. I was thinking about how much 400 really is - and I realized that the booths started being numbered at 100 and went to 400 something, so it is less than 400 - I was just thinking about the number of the booths that were listed. And several of the booths took up more than one booth space, so the number of companies represented was less than the number of booths.

Not that anyone cares, really But I just didn't want to be lying to you!!

I too went to the Indy convention on Saturday. This was my 4th year and my oldest is 6yo. I did great in the AM I had my list of things I needed for HOD and some supplemental math/writing stuff. I succeeded in having tunnel vison all morning. I was not distracted or feeling guilty for not stopping at all the booths, the problem came when I had purchased what I could get there and began to just relax and browse, big mistake!!! I began getting sucked in, not really by the other curriculums, I am very excited to begin my first year of HOD (it would have helped if I could have actually seen a guide book to touch and flip through) but I was more sucked in by all the colorful activities, experiments and colorful books on various topics. I, once again, left there feeling completely inadequate in my task at hand and that my kids will surely be missing out on something. That is my tidbit on the conference. I did have friends there who were trying to make the decision that day. I tried to convince them all of HOD. Again the problem was there was nothing there to see or touch for them to see and compare it to the others. Although I too appreciate Carries heart and that she is not pushy like so many of the vendors I ran into yesterday. But maybe I could help man a booth next year too :)

Hey, Renee, I would have loved to have met you there! Maybe we can meet next year and man the booth together!

That is exactly what I meant when I said that I wished HOD was represented there. Without being able to actually see it, it is difficult to know or compare with what is out there. However, I have no doubt that God will grow HOD according to His timetable and He will honor the Austins in their choices.

BTW, I'm sorry that you left feeling bad. Let me assure you that you are totally adequate to do what God has called you to do. Yes, your kids are missing out on doing a lot of those things you saw there - and that's a GOOD thing!! Just do what God has given you to do and let the rest go. I continually recall to mind the passage in Luke that says "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only a few are necessary, really only one. Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." You are choosing the good part in giving up yourself to home educate your children, so don't let Satan cause you to be worried and bothered about so many things. I hope that doesn't sound preachy - it is my own personal sermon that I give to myself continually.

Happyathome,

Wonderful words...we all need to remember that there are LOTS of good things, but we want to choose the best!

Renee-your kids don't need all those things at the booths...God has lead you to where you are and He will show you exactly what they need. Remember, condemnation (and guilt) are not from the Lord. Satan wants you to feel you are missing out....but HOD is wonderful and complete all on its own. Be encourage!

Last year was my first convention and book fair and I did leave there in tears. I was so overwhelmed! I think Carrie was at that convention, but I don't even recall seeing the HOD booth. I was so overwhelmed with all the choices that I didn't buy hardly anything and came home with a lot of brochures. This year will be so much better since I've already decided on HOD as my core curriculum. I have a list of a few other things to look for and hopefully I'll be able to leave there feeling like we have what we need. I'm looking forward to the classes this year too. Last year, I wasn't able to go to any of the classes. I'm also looking forward to meeting Carrie! I was wondering Carrie, if you will be having a vendor workshop at the NC convention? I am thinking of volunteering to help at the convention, but I want to make sure that I don't do it at such a time that I would miss out on a HOD workshop if you are doing one.

oo I know convention phobia... I do have some advice.. For first timers to a convention.. Take along a "old hand at homeschooling" MOM. Even if they do not have to go pay there way and buy them lunch... Its worth every penny... This is a place where let the older woman mentor the younger ones comes in handy. I know If Diane hadn't taken me by the hand and lead me though my first convention I would have been in tears.

That's the sad thing, I did do that my first year, had an old homeschool pro with me. This was my 4th year and my dtr is just now going into first grade. I am just now at point where I need to make some decisions, I am glad I had the past years as experience. It is just so enticing all the fun bright educational books. Like I said, this was by far the best and least stressful year, I just can not imagine going there for the first time and having to make decisions.
Renee

Ladies,

I know those convention feelings! We see the excitement, the worry, the joy of a "find", the frustrations, and the hope that comes with a plan of action. We love talking to moms like each of you at convention and though it is draining, we truly feel that we are serving others as the Lord would have us do.

I think it is so important for curriculum authors to stay in touch with the vast array of feelings that homeschool moms have on their homeschool journey (which changes from year-to-year as circumstances change). It helps us to serve each of you better.

As far as Winston-Salem goes, it does appear that I'll be speaking, but I don't have the whole itinerary yet, so I'm not sure what day or time.

I'm looking forward to meeting all of you who are able to attend a convention where we are this year, and for those of you who are overwhelmed, just know that the Lord will give you a peace with your decisions if they are honorable to Him and you listen for His voice in the stillness of the decision-making process.

Blessings,
Carrie

That's fantastic Carrie! I can't wait to meet you and attend your workshop!