A few years back I remember hearing or reading about the Hearts at Home conferences that are held in various states once a year. They are for moms (although I know I few stay at home dads that may enjoy this and it may be soon insensitive of us to declare it a mom thing only but that's a whole nother blog post people) I really, really, really have wanted to go for 2 years straight now and made every excuse in the book as to why this would not be practical. And here's my short list...
A. Rochester is the closest (which is about 3 1/2 hours away from our small hometown)
B. $. Need I say more? Okay I will hotel, conference costs, food, extras (a.k.a. book obsession and there is going to be the biggest expo of every single book I will want)
C. Hunting Opener. Really a conference in Minnesota/Wisconites come to and it's on opening Saturday of hunting? I know where 90% of my mom friends are on this day and it's not enjoying a weekend away to revitalize their souls. No they are doing what we do the other 6 days of the week, caring for their children.
So inevitably I put this conference on hold in the never gonna happen box of my heart.
The past couple of months I found myself stalking their website soaking up every bit of what I could. Reading the authors/speakers books that would be at the conference in hopes that that would fulfill me without having to be there in person helping eliminate the big obstacles. Nope it still kept popping up in my heart and I kept thinking if He really wanted me to go and hear what was in my mind going to "change my world view on parenting" then
Well I believe He did just that.
Sign #1 Instead of the conference being held on it's normal weekend (which coincides with WI deer hunting opener) it was scheduled for a week earlier. One week before the conference I so innocently brought this conversation to my husband and it went something like this..."Hi hun I made some cookies they are on the counter and what do you think if I were to go to the conference this weekend after all." Sign #2 He replied you should go. No hesitation, not even a grumble. Now this wasn't just a simple you go I'll watch the kids. See my husband also goes to Michigan the week before Wisconsin's hunting opener for their opener! Yes he loves to hunt he is a WI boy through and through! Without even saying anything to me he decided to leave a day later and called his mother to have the kids overnight for the overlapping of the trip to ensure that I could leave. Major points David! Sign #3 Ugh the cost! We have been saving for the holidays, a winter family vacation, etc. But, He did it again. My mother had called saying she would like to give me my Christmas gift early towards the conference costs. (which since I had delayed had grown in amount to attend). So basically half the cost of my trip was then covered making it a lot less of a financial choice. As moms I think it's funny how my kids will always have their needs met and then some, but as a mom I find it hard to spend that same investment on myself. Hello, my daughter has better shoe options than I do and that's not okay people!
So that was it I was going!
As the day approached to when I would be leaving it dawned me...I'm 32 and will be staying in a hotel room for the first time ever by myself. WHAT!? I know right branching out (in my defense being married at 20 I found my hotel-mate for life earlier than most eliminating solo hotel trips).
Other than showing up at 9:30 p.m. to the wrong "sister" hotel and having to go find the right one all went great! I realized quick this is my opportunity (less than 24 hours!) to soak this up so I wanted to make sure I did it right. First stop SUSHI! I have a sushi loving heart and unfortunately not many people I do meals with feel the same way so SUSHI it was! I enjoyed asking for a quieter booth read my paper and ate my sushi rolls without being asked once to take a little to the bathroom or clean up spilt milk, can I get an AMEN mamas out there! Oh and having the whole bed to myself with not one wake up call to "I peed the bed" was AMAZING!
The conference began bright and early and I quickly became excited that I was I referred to as "solo". You see there was a trend going around the conference for the main sessions with all 3,000 women or more gather in the main arena and go around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to find the "perfect seat(note: those don't exist) and not only find the perfect spot for them, but for the rest of their group in the same rows! I was able to come in to any workshop within 5 minutes prior to starting and find what I considered to be my perfect seat with ease due to my solo status!
Each workshop I chose for that day could not have been more perfectly aligned with what I feel like I needed to hear. It's funny how He does that isn't it?! The big theme for the year was to "unleash your inner supermom". Which the basis was really to help all of us moms understand there is no "supermom", but we all have a super power! Maybe more than one, but at least one. I'm not sure exactly if I found mine yet, but hopefully soon! I had the pleasure of meeting several women and hearing their stories and it was great to just connect with other moms. I happened to get to an afternoon workshop early and ended up sitting next to a woman who was one of those that if we lived in the same town I could easily be instant friends with. She and I within 15 minutes had shared some pretty heavy stuff with one another and it was great to just unleash. We smiled, we hugged and we went on with our
While I didn't have any huge life impacting moments I did find myself weirdly refreshed after a long emotional day. Refreshed to go back and be not the best mom, but just the best version of a mom I could be and even I hope a better wife.
Note: Almost 2 weeks since I went to this gathering and I feel I am still referencing most of what I learned so I'm happy with my investment into me.
