Time to Grow

This is a tough one for me. Deep breath. Here we go . . .

I didn't write much about the LIFE is Good Conference this year. I didn't go on and on about how awesome it was. I didn't tell you about the amazing connections I made or how energized I felt. I didn't tell you all of these things because none of them happened. What did happen? I felt depressed. I felt anxious. I felt lost. And I wanted to cry.

What was so different about this year from two years ago? Well, for starters I forgot my thyroid med. If you know anything about an under-active thyroid, if you are without meds, it messes with your head. It messed with mine. A lot. Of course, in the throes of it, I didn't realize what it was.

This time I didn't have someone by my side for the whole conference, last time I did. Princess didn't have someone with her to hang out the whole time this time, last time she did. This created anxiety for me.

With all of that, my biggest challenge is that I am shy. Painfully shy. Many people who know me are surprised to find this out, but believe me, it is true. If I'm on my turf, I do just fine. If I'm surrounded by people I know, I do just fine. Put me in a space with a lot of people who I don't know and watch me crawl inside myself. The thing is, I want so much to connect with others I just don't know how to do it.

I saw familiar faces from the unschooling community, people I have on my Facebook friends list, but I couldn't force myself to walk up to them and start talking.

Princess wanted to go off on her own, but she's so little and as my sweet friend "Pink" puts it, Princess is portable and is easily carried off. I would have been fine had she had a friend to hang with, but she didn't. This limited her experience as well. For that I felt horrible. The entire experience was a failure.

You'd think we would never want to go back, right? Wrong. I refuse to live my life this way any longer. I am going to beat this. I am spending my time until Memorial Day weekend (the conference weekend) working on my shyness and my social anxiety. I'm reading books that help with shyness and social anxiety and I'm putting myself out there. I have had several conversations with people, strangers, engaging them in conversation. This is a skill I have never learned . . . until now. I now have a goal for this year and I am going to rock this goal.

We will be back at LIFE is Good and we will have a fabulous experience. My friend Pink has offered to join us next year along with her son who is a very good friend to Princess. Yes, she will be my security blanket but she has offered to help me grow and work this goal. I can do this. I know I can. LIG 2013 is going to be awesome!!!

LiG Fun!

The highlight for us of the LIFE is Good Unschooling Conference was the talent show. Princess was inspired to dance . . .

. . . and perform a comedic puppet show, featuring a tiger and a pig.

I think standup comedy may be in her future.

Artist Trading Cards

I love how things happen.

Remember the LIFE is Good Unschooling Conference? One of the "funshops" they are offering this year is Artist Trading Cards, or ATCs. I had never heard of them before, but they sounded really cool. I did a little online research and found this website and this one.

In short, Artist Trading Cards are simply pieces of art that are made out of cards, measuring 2 1/2" x 3 1/2". You can use special paper pre-cut to that size or better yet, use any sturdy paper. Old file folders, card stock, greeting cards -- any paper that is not flimsy -- can be cut to the right dimensions and used as an ATC. Once you have your 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" card, what you do with it is up to you! Draw on it, paint, collage, sew embellish, write words. Use your imagination. The options are endless!

You can keep your little works of art or trade them with other artists.

After learning about this, I was inspired to propose a new member activity at Village Home, our homeschool resource center. Starting in Spring term we will create these small pieces of art and I am super excited!!

Princess and I started working on some basic cards so that we have some examples to share.

These are simply done with cards cut from colored card stock and magic markers. That's it! I can't wait to try some new techniques! We have only a couple weeks until classes start again!! For now, we will enjoy our nice long Spring break.

Super Early Bird

We're never super early for anything. Ask anyone. We're almost always late. If we're on time it's a big surprise. This is the one exception.

Yesterday, an email popped in that had me jumping up and down with excitement. Conference organizer, Mary Gold, announced that Super Early Bird Registration was open for the  LIFE is Good Unschooling Conference and the hotel room block had been set up. And yes, I registered right away AND reserved our hotel. I know the conference/hotel is just across the bridge, but we missed so much last time by having to drive home each day. This time the Lizard King will join us. We are super excited!! To make things easier, Sophia Rose (the royal dog) is going too! This promises to be another amazing time!!! It's true, life IS good!