I thoroughly enjoyed the 2010 THSC State Convention and Family Conference this past weekend.  Thursday night my husband and I went to see the opening programs.  John Erickson entertained us by reading excerpts from his writing.  He writes the Hank the Cowdog series.  Next we listened to Carol Barnier.  She shared her insight about parenting in her speech, “Don’t Miss the Gift in This Child.”  The evening concluded with a program by Norm Wakefied entitled,”Eternal Perspective: The Key to Wisdom.”  Lane and I not only had a nice evening just the two of us, but we enjoyed the seminars.

Friday I spent the entire day at the convention by myself.  Lane watched the kids while he tried to get some work done at home and on the ranch.  He likes to work beside our children whenever he can.  The two smallest present the most challenges and interruptions.  The heat index was 110 degrees so he had to be extra careful with the kids.  All in all, he had a successful day.  I luxuriously enjoyed mine.

Friday night we were trying to figure out what to do.  We could not find a baby-sitter to save our lives.  Lane was planning to go with me on Saturday.  Jake kept saying that he wanted to go to the convention.  Lane did everything to discourage him.  After all it is hard for Jake to stay still.  He likes to go, go, go.  Lane did not think that Jake would have any fun at all.

Lane decided to keep our children again on Saturday.  I left the decision up to Jake whether he would come or not.  Early Saturday morning he came down the stairs dressed to go to the convention.  I packed his lunch and added it mine in a small cooler.  And, we left.

Jake could not get over the fact that all the people he saw in the crowed convention center home school.  It is mind-boggling to think that there are that many.  You certainly cannot feel alone or isolated when you go to a convention like this.  I let him choose which seminar we would attend hoping that he would pay more attention to it.

He immediately chose to listen to John Erickson speak on “Writing as a Christian Vocation.”  It was a great fit for Jake.  He loves Mr. Erickson’s writing.  He read the short story, “Diary of a Bronc.”  Being a cowboy and breaking a horse to ride is also right up Jake’s alley.  Jake also loves to create stories.  He has great ideas and just might be an author some day.

Then Jake and I listened to Carol Barnier.  It was a talk for moms only called, “If I’m Diapering a Watermelon Then Where’s the Baby?”  If the title doesn’t tell you, Carol Barnier is hilarious!  Jake, though obviously not a mom, enjoyed watching everyone laugh even if he did not get the joke.  Some women were literally crying because they were laughing so hard.

Jake could not wait to go down to the first floor and shop.  There are rows after rows of vendors selling everything from curriculum to 150′water balloon launchers.  He had only one booth on his mind, John Erickson’s.  He purchased three more Hank books and Mr. Erickson graciously autographed them.  Jake was on cloud nine.

We ate our packed lunch together at a table in the lobby of the Waterway Marriot.  It was nice and relatively secluded.  We enjoyed one another’s company immensely.  I was worried that he was tired and would be wanting to go home, but he was asking me to read the descriptions of the next seminars.  He chose to hear Carol Barnier again since she was so funny.

I allowed Jake to choose our seats too.  He really liked that and to my surprise had us in the front of every talk.  Carol Barnier was speaking this time on a much more serious topic, “A Prodigal Speaks Out.”  It was an incredible talk.  She has a gift of mixing humor with such a painful subject without cheapening the sincerity of the message.

I was so proud of Jake.  He proved that he is capable of sitting for an hour at a time for three hours.  He was so well-behaved.  I just thought I would publicly praise him.  The best part of the day was that we spent the whole day together just the two of us.  We haven’t had that opportunity in forever.  I feel closer to him after just one day.  We both agreed that we need to make a concerted effort to spend a mother and son day again.

If you take time regardless of the number of children that you have to spend a mother/son day, please let me know via email or by leaving a comment what your favorite activities to do together are.  Since I have a daughter too, please let me know those ideas as well.  Having a day together really does wonders for your relationship.

Tags: Carol Barnier, homeschool convention, John Erickson, mother and son day, Norm Wakefield, THSC

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