Our family has always loved packing our bags. loading the car and heading out to one CCC conference or another. We get excited about road trips, hotel rooms and 'child care'. After 30 years on staff and countless trips, these are the highlights of our family life. Our kids are now grown but many of our family memories are around these trips, their staff friends and the CCC family that has shaped our lives together.
As a mom, I've always appreciated the fact that only other staff moms really understand what my life is like. Support raising, travel, heart level convictions and in general a rather crazy life style are things that really only other moms on staff get. Conferences were always that opportunity to encourage one another, share ideas, laugh alot and eat out. I never wanted to miss one. Maybe I'm forgetting the inconvenience, the communal germ factory, the missed school days, the upset soccer coaches, but after all these years I think the benefit for us outwayed the sacrifices. My grown kids are good witnesses as well.
Let me know what you think. How has the travel been of help to you on staff? How could we make it easier for each other? You can tell me I'm crazy, too, it would just be fun to hear from one another.
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As a family we would say ahem! Our kids use to plan the year based on conferences. They lived for the next one. In fact this year we have a fun rare occurance that we will all be at Camp of the Woods. David and Nick will be doing childcare. Who knows maybe another great staff kid movie will be in the making.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't that I never wondered why I was at the conferences. With 5 of us poured into one hotel room, sick kids and the rest. But I think my kids love staff because they just remember the fun parts. Also they had other adults who were their cheerleaders and that is worth a great deal. Oh well I am rumbling which my kids say I am famous for.
Look forward to seeing you all soon.
We do love staff conferences - especially the 2 extroverts in our family.. The ohters get a little wiped out after a day or two!! My kids for instance love spending summers in Co and can't imagine missing the whole experience. At the same time it has also been a struggle. Having a child who is not readily included is probably hardest on me. There have been years when Jonathan spent a large percentage of his time alone. While other staff rave about the strong relationships thier children have with other staff kids I greive for what he doesn't have. I'm hopeful for this year as I think he participated at a greater level last year..
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