I remember going to Younique convention last year while I was almost 5 months pregnant and being in awe of my fellow Y sisters who traveled with their babies. But it also made me realize, I can do this too in 2017! Seeing others do what I wanted to do, as I’ve learned time and time again ever since I started with Younique? It’s pretty darn empowering.
Then convention in New Orleans approached, and I got nervous. What if he didn’t nap? What if I missed my classes? What if he disrupted the classes so much and bothered other people? What if, what if, what if?
It’s kind of crazy how your thoughts can lead you down a rabbit hole of possibility, both negative as well as positive. Because, well, what if he did just fine? If I didn’t go, I knew I’d be kicking myself later, because the things you learn at convention, the people you meet, and heck ya, the free products too, make for an incredible experience. (Affiliate links included).
As you may have guessed (or if you’re friends with me on Facebook), it ended up being a wonderful experience. It was still a whirlwind, and definitely different than had I been by myself… but I learned a whole lot about myself and juggling work with kiddos. Here are just a few of those work/life/harmony lessons.
Flexibility is Key
As with parenting in general, being flexible while traveling with a baby is a must. During Younique convention, there was a morning general session and afternoon classes. I attempted to go to each general session, but a room of 9,000 Y sisters can be pretty overwhelming for a 6 month old. When things got to be too much for him (or he was asking to sleep), I walked with him in the stroller or I baby wore. Luckily, with a Mother’s Room at convention, where they streamed the general sessions, I didn’t even miss all that much!
Babywearing is ammmazing
Seriously, whoever invented baby carriers that just snap together easy peasy is my idol. Pretty much the only way Buster would nap during convention (if he didn’t nap before General Session at the hotel) was in my Lillebaby carrier. When he started sucking two of his fingers, I’d pop him in the carrier facing me, he’d snuggle in, and fall asleep while I walked between classes. (As the week wore on he even figured out the routine, which made me realize just how adaptable kiddos can be!)
And thank you to the friends who suggested the Airflow 6-in-1 Lillebaby carrier… with the New Orleans heat and humidity, Buster didn’t overheat, and we both stayed comfortable.
A support system makes such a difference
My husband came to New Orleans with me, and I doubt I could have made the trip without him… and not just because he stayed in the hotel room at night so I could go out for all the evening activities. A team mate of mine, Brodi, and her husband also went, and they made a world of difference too… and not just because Brodi opened all the doors for me. When I needed an extra set of hands, they were there to help, as were many of my Younique sisters, even ones I’d never met before. One gal sat next to me in class and she said she was missing her baby who wasn’t much older than mine; and when he started getting fussy she offered to hold him.
Everything is temporary
I made it all sound pretty easy breezy, didn’t I? But trust me. Oh trust me, there were moments I was like, what did I get myself into? Between pooping TWICE during one general session, and some screaming when he got a bit overtired, and running through a torrential downpour with him, there were some stressful moments… but as with all things, it was temporary. The day went on, and the moment passed.
The four nights we were there flew by so insanely fast, and we did and learned SO much. It was worth every second of it — even the more difficult moments. So one of my biggest takeaways from this weekend’s Younique convention? You can do anything you set your mind to, because where there’s a will there’s a way… and that includes bringing a baby with you on a very very busy work trip. (And you can bet I’m super thankful that I could bring him with me).
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