Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Mom Congress 2012 Day 1



This past weekend I had the pleasure of traveling to Washington, D.C. to represent New York State as the 2012 Delegate to Mom Congress.  This was a truly amazing experience.  I got to meet so many terrific people who have some wonderful ideas and visions for our childrens' futures... and I have learned ALOT!!!  Thank you to Parenting Magazine for allowing me and the 50 other awesome Moms this opportunity!

Before my trip the folks at Parenting Magazine had set up a Mom Congress 2012 Facebook page for all of the Moms to connect on.  All of us were in the same boat as far as not really knowing what to expect... so there were some great questions on the Facebook page... in typical Mom fashion (no pun intended)... what to wear was a popular question. Pants, a nice top, a sweater or jacket works for the days... and for the evening receptions a dress or dressier outfit is a good choice.  A comfy pair of shoes is a necessity if sightseeing is on your to-do list. 

Parenting provided accommodations in the Homewood Suites by Hilton.  Love, love, loved my hotel suite (yes suite!) Upon arrival at the hotel, Domino's Pizza School Lunch Specialist Shannon Yuen treated everyone to some Domino's Smart Slice pizza... Healthy yet delicious!!! 

Parenting staff were onhand to distribute Mom Congress bags which held our Mom Congress binder and the agenda for the next three days. 

The whirlwind began...

A shuttle bus brought us to Copley Formal Lounge at the historic Georgetown University, a truly magnificant work of architecture.  The evening kicked off with Welcome remarks from Mark Wildman, VP/Group Publisher, The Parenting Group, Ana Connery, Editorial Director, Parenting and Alina Soler, Social Media Editor, Parenting.com.  Shannon Yuen from Domino's spoke about the new Domino's Pizza Smart Slice... a nutritious lunch option for our children. 

Next up Kimochis founders Ellen Pritchard Dodge and Nina Rappaport Rowan introduced us to their Kimochis, toys with feelings.  We were highly entertained as we learned about how these toys can help children express their different feelings.  This was an awesome presentation. 

We had some time to meet with our Mentors who were returning delegates from 2010 and 2011 Mom Congress.   The VH1 Save the Music performance by Bruce-Monroe Elementary School, Washington, D.C., was great.  It was very inspiring to see the children playing their violins and cellos that Save the Music donated to their school. 
Dinner was delicious, we mingled and chatted, it was a fun evening. 
Even though the hotel bed was so comfy and had about 20 pillows... I barely slept due to the excitement and anticipation of what Monday would bring.