I have come back to the Type A Parent Conference for a second time and am ready to learn ways to make a few more ripples in the blogosphere! I have been to two other blogging conferences since the inception of the Mildly manic Mom. Lat year at the Type A Conference and in December in Atlanta for Bloggy Boot Camp. From the very first opening key note session I found my mantra for the weekend – MAKE PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION. Okay, that might be a good mantra for almost everything in my life, but for now if will be the conference.
These conferences are really amazing. There is the conference swag – free stuff from sponsors – and seminars and workshops and parties put on by those sponsors. Nice! So far I have quite a collection of Zone Perfect Nutrition Bars, coupons and an insulated shopping bag from De Waflebakkers. I have fun pictures taken at the Proxi Photo Booth and some of the most amazing tea samples from PositiviTea. I also want to add a little shout out here to the conference official cause Shot@Life – a movement to protect children worldwide by providing life-saving vaccines where they are most needed.
The stuff is a wonderful reason to attend in itself but the best reason is for the people. I came down with two other bloggers from Asheville and we have added one more to our room. It has been fun to have a few instant friends in a sea of about 300 unfamiliar faces. Unfamiliar but certainly not unfriendly. There is something about this blogger crowd that I have noticed – they are a mighty friendly group!
So far bloggers I have met seem to think there is enough room still in this grand blogosphere for many, many of us. They are quick to share information and sites to help you out and share their cards for a personal connection. It is such a different world than my “day job” at school but there always seems to be someone to help.
What have I learned so far? Some of the same themes I heard at the other conferences seem to resonate again throughout the different sessions. Be true to yourself and your space, don’t hide but be proud of what you do, tell YOUR story, know where you want to go, don’t dismiss anyone. Kind of sounds like good rules for life in general, doesn’t it?
A focus and direction for this space is what I want to create. I want to continue to do the research and sampling of healthy family friendly recipes to share; I want to have a voice to share with other parents of kids with Aspergers to help them enjoy the quirks of this life; I want to spread the things I have learned from teaching and being involved in the lives of so many special high school students. I hope you stick around with me as I continue this journey.
~ The Mildly Manic Mom
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You already know I love this post. I didn’t get to comment when I first read it – but I like it a lot.
I’m sad we didn’t get to spend more time talking, but am glad we connected and both remembered one another. Too funny. Timing can be everything, and I think meeting you last year at the time I did was so perfect! Anyway, I’ll be keeping my eye on you – looking forward to seeing what you come up with in your space!
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