Baby, this is ASAE & The Center...
I'm pleased to join the blogging crew for the upcoming Annual Meeting and I am excited to share a new perspective on the meeting (or at least one I haven't seen before). A perspective on the Annual Meeting as a family experience. Yep, that's right. I'm bringing the fam. My husband and my infant daughter. You see, I just couldn't miss out on another Annual and the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues. I had to miss last year's - I wasn't allowed to fly at the time. And this year, my husband, who works for an association but doesn't consider himself an "association person," thought he'd give it a shot. I'm a little nervous about handing my daughter over for onsite daycare (and not because I question the competency of the providers; instead, I worry about how she'll handle the adjustment), so I'd love to hear from anyone who has used the service before. I'm looking forward to introducing the family to all my association friends and introducing the association world to my family.
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Comments
Hi Kristi - we're going to use it too. My boss said she's used it before and it's fine. See you at drop off time.
Posted by: Nick | July 6, 2007 3:36 PM
Kristi,
Welcome to the blogosphere. Looking forward to reading your perspectives. My "kids" are both over 21 now, but when they were much younger, most of our family "vacations" consisted of everyone going to a professional meeting. We frequently availed ourselves of the professional sitting services and everything always went smoothly, so I'm sure you'll have nothing to worry about.
Of course, you are a parent so you will worry anyway - and feel guilty. To help assuage that guilt I offer this anecdote. When my daughter was a little older than yours (walking and sort of talking), I dropped her off one time and left brokenhearted as she screamed and cried not to be abandoned. I was miserable all day. That afternoon when I returned to pick her up, she screamed and cried not to be pulled away from the new playmates and toys and fun she was having. Needless to say, I felt much less guilt the next time. Much of it, I think, is learning to deal with transitions - which can be hard for both parent and child but is a necessary skill for life.
We hear so much about the greying our associations. The last two conferences/retreats I attended had lots of young parents bringing their stroller-aged post-millenials. (Do we have a name for that generation yet?) It was very heartening to see so many young people and the hope that they embodied. So don't keep your future Executive Director in child care the whole time. Bring her around to meet us and show us the future !
Posted by: Wayne Carley | July 8, 2007 12:44 PM