I’m going to my very first blogging conference ever, and I’m
all bouncy with excitement. It’s a smaller one called Springboard. It’s the conference’s first year, which I think
is perfect for me.
I would give my right kidney to go to BlogHer and some of the other “big girl” conferences, but I
know myself too well to start there. See, I’m actually an introvert. I know I would easily get overwhelmed by the
masses of talented women who already know each other. As they all hug, laugh loudly, and reminisce about conferences of yore, I would slowly
back up against a wall and shield myself behind my wine glass and nervous
smile. I think I would feel lonely among thousands of bloggers, and I could
leave a conference like that without saying more than a few words to any single
person.
I found out about Springboard
from a tweet by another Clever Girl,
a collective of which I am a proud member. (Check out my fab badge over to the right,
yo!) I adore this group of ladies, so I was immediately intrigued. I tweeted my
interest about the conference, and my wonderful Hubs (who actually follows me on Twitter) saw it. He decided to surprise me by sending me to the
conference.
I found out about it when I got the confirmation email, and
I was all like WHAAAAAAAT? Then I
figured out that Hubs was behind it all. He’s a super sweet genius, is what he
is.
So, yeah. I’m off to Boston next week. For four
days.
Not only do I get to meet some of the Clever Girls and other phenomenal bloggers in person, I get
to have a few days all to myself.
I get to go to sleep without a baby monitor next to my ear.
I get to eat an entire meal before it gets cold because I’m
not performing a Broadway show to persuade a picky toddler to eat.
I get to wear something besides yoga pants.
I get to wear cute shoes!!!
Which brings me to my first question as a bloggy conference
newbie: What the hell do I wear?? On the first night, there’s dinner and
dancing. On a boat. In Boston. In late September. I assume it will f**king cold,
but also that everyone will be all dressed up. (Because that’s what we women do
– we dress up for each other. Yes, it makes perfect sense. Shut up.)
So, do I wear the standard uniform – a little black dress
and goose bumps? I’m totally cool with that. I’m used to shivering my ass off
for the sake of fashion. (After all, I did wait until the ripe old age of 32
before giving birth to a child, so I haven’t completely forgotten.) I just don’t
want to be over-dressed at my first conference. (Add “embarrassed, flushed
cheeks” to the “wine glass and nervous smile” shield.)
And what does one wear to the daytime sessions? I assume my
usual yoga pants and ponytail will not suffice. Business casual? I think I can
still fit into some of those clothes from my old “big girl job.” I might have to blow the dust off of them. Or
will jeans and a decent non-tee-shirt be more appropriate?
Hmmm, what else? I guess I don’t know what I don’t know, so
wardrobe concerns are the only questions I have for right now. Any tips from
you conference pros? How can this slightly awkward, overly self-conscious, introvert
make real connections with other
attendees?
As you loyal readers might have guessed, I’m suffering from separation and dress anxiety yet
again. You may remember I went to Boston solo at this time last year for a friend’s wedding. I was gone a
whopping thirty-six hours, and I almost lost my shit. I left Hubs and then-six-month-old
Quinn alone for the first time, and I was a wreck. Of course, when I got back, they were both
totally fine. And I know they’ll be fine this time, too.
But this time, I’ll be gone for four and a half days. (I’m
tacking on an extra day to see my friends, Laura
and Stef, who live in Boston.
Another HUGE bonus of the trip!) That’s a long time! Other than last year’s whirlwind
trip, I haven’t been away from Quinn for more than a few hours.
I want to enjoy myself. I seriously could use the break from
SAHM-hood. But what am I
if I’m not taking care of Q? He’s my whole world. Trust me, I clearly see the
pros and cons to that.
I know Q and Hubs will be fine. Sure, Q might not get a bath
every night. He might not wash his hands before each meal. He might watch more
TV than usual. Things will definitely not get done the way I would do them. But
Q and Hubs will have a great time
together, and they probably really need this time.
But I hear Q wake up every morning on the baby monitor asking
for Momma. And I won’t be there.
I know that will be harder on me than on him. And I’m not sure
if that knowledge is reassuring or just makes me sadder.
So PLEASE help me, blogging mommas. What the heck do I wear to this
conference? And how do I get the most out of it without drowning in
worry over being away from my son?
Hubs, Quinn and I are in Kauai this week! Whoo-fucking-HOO! I’m hoping my limited
downtime on this vacation includes some laptop time, in which case I will reply
to comments promptly. But in the event I decide to use that downtime to lie in
the sun, suck down mai tai’s, and cover my face with a hat, there might be a
delay in replying to your comments. But PLEASE leave them anyway. I really need
the advice. Mahalo!
