logistics

[mamajoan]

I'm trying to figure out the logistics of what to do with Isaac next week during Worldcon. Here are the bullet points:

* I'm taking Wed, Thu, and Fri off work to attend the con. Isaac never goes to daycare on Thursdays -- my mom watches him -- so Wed and Fri are the main issues. (I figure I'll worry about Sat and Sun later, heh.)
* There aren't really very many con events on Wed, but there's registration (which I agreed to volunteer for) and my out-of-town congoing buddies L&A will want to do some sightseeing which I'd like to accompany them on if possible.
* If I were to drive Isaac to daycare (which is near my office) and then drive myself back to the con, it would take at LEAST an hour and a half for the whole trip. And then I'd have to go back and pick him up again later -- another 1.5 hours.
* I still have to pay for the whole week of daycare even if I don't bring him in.
* Folks who are coming from out of town (e.g. L&A, retch, and other con-going friends) will want to see Isaac. However, I don't know whether he has the stamina for an entire day of con-going activities. I certainly don't think it's reasonable to expect him to sit still/quietly through very many panels.

So my basic options for both Wed and Fri are:

a. Take Isaac to daycare early in the morning before starting any con activities, then go pick him up later.
b. Do some combination of daycare and con; e.g., take him in early and pick up early, or take him in late and pick up at usual time.
c. Don't take him to daycare at all; just bring him along to everything.

I was also considering
d. Find someone else to pick him up from daycare
but I don't think this is going to work out. I was going to ask a particular coworker to do it, but it turns out he'll be on vacation all week. I could ask another coworker, but she lives in the opposite direction and it would be a big inconvenience for her to bring Isaac into the city. So I'm pretty much scratching that idea.

Alternatively, wouldn't it be lovely if I could just find a babysitter to watch him in this area on those two days? But our regular babysitter will just be getting back from like three straight weeks of vacation, so I doubt she's going to want to take more time off work to babysit. Alas.

Another issue is that I don't want to be driving out to get him at rush hour. I've seen what the traffic can be like going *toward* daycare in the evenings (as opposed to going away from it which is what I'm always doing) and it's ugly. If I'm picking him up, I would want to be leaving the con no later than 4, preferably earlier. This may make congoing stuff less fun, and if I bring him in late and pick up early, that just starts to seem silly.

OTOH, if I take him to daycare *very* early -- like say 7am (normally we arrive around 9) maybe I can make it worth my while. Of course, I don't know what the traffic is like at 7! ;)

Unfortunately, without knowing what the con schedule will be (they do have it online thanks to jenwrites but I don't trust it) or what everyone I'll be hanging out with is going to want to do, it's really hard to plan ahead. I know that on Wednesday morning L&A want to go to the LOTR exhibit at the Museum of Science, and I agreed to meet them there and do the museum with them after they do the LOTR exhibit, and I was assuming I'd bring Isaac along for that, but now I'm thinking maybe not. I could bring him to daycare and *then* meet them at the museum, and we could do touristy stuff, and then I could go pick him up. But then when would I do my volunteering? Augh! And I can't even discuss it with L&A because L is on a business trip. (In nearby Newport, RI, ironically.) I think she'll be home tonight, or maybe tomorrow, so we can discuss it. I'd like to be able to give my daycare some advance notice, but if it doesn't work out that way, tough.

This is one of the few times it's turning out to be really inconvenient that I chose a daycare center close to work and far from home. Ah well.

Ugh, so many factors to consider! *head spins* Must keep repeating to myself: this is supposed to be FUN. This is my vacation! It will be FUN! FUN, I say! Whew.

Comments

[flick.livejournal.com]

Oh, oh, Worldcon! Can I at least meet up with you long enough to go squee and tell you in person how much I like your writing? I'll even look at baby pictures if it makes you happy!

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

wow! see how much I miss when I fall behind on reading LJ!

So when are you arriving, departing, etc.????

p.s.

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

I'll even look at baby pictures
Um, and you read this journal for what now? ;)

Re: p.s.

[flick.livejournal.com]

[laughs]

Yeah, but if you show me them that you can be sure I see every little cute nuance!

Re: p.s.

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but if he's right there in person you can see every little cute nuance for yourself! :)

Re: p.s.

[flick.livejournal.com]

Ooh! I get to see him in person? Rar!

[flick.livejournal.com]

I'm in Detroit right now, and I leave here on Friday (probably - may go on Thursday instead, but I suspect it'll be too late to change my flight by the time I know, iyswim). I think I get into Boston at about 1pm. I'm leaving on a flight at about 8am on Sunday.

I'm going to be at the Hugos on Saturday night (note to self: buy a frock). Other than that... I really should look at the programme, I suspect!

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

wow, so you're really only going to like 1.5 days of Worldcon. Ah well, maybe you'll get to go to the whole thing next year!

A frock! LOL! You don't have to dress up for the Hugos. Some people do, but most don't.

[flick.livejournal.com]

Yeah, 'fraid so! Seemed silly not to go, as I'm here, but I'm busy at work and want to be away from drplokta for as little time as possible!

I'm told that I do need a frock for the Hugos. Possibly becuase I'll be sitting with the nominees? Anyway, don't ruin my new frock excuse!

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Ahh, okay, my bad! Obviously I meant to say, "yes, you need a *very* nice frock, spare no expense!" :)

[flick.livejournal.com]

And, yes, get to go to the whole thing next year. Will probably spend most of it helping int he fan room, like, but...

[(Anonymous)]

You should be careful to realize your posts are often about what an inconvenience your child is.

[flick.livejournal.com]

That's both rude and incorrect. Grow up.

[glamsith.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure you're clear on the meaning of the word "careful."

Or perhaps it's the concept of "journal" that's giving you trouble.

[sarcasm]
By all means, Chlaal, stop talking about how much time you spend thinking about the logistics involved. I'd much rather have nothing but the countless posts about how Isaac just totally makes your life, you know? That way, I'd know that it's really a cake walk that you're just breezing through without a care in the world. I *certainly* wouldn't want to think of you as a person now that you're a mother.

And while you're at it? You might want to think more about what other people will think of you based on what you write, and less about what's genuinely going on in your head! I *really* prefer the Disney version of the universe.

Oh, and here -- I got you this pretty dress the last time I was in stepford.[/sarcasm]

And here, I was just thinking:

1)there are probably so many people going to WorldCon with small children, I wouldn't be surprised if there were some informal nursery (or twelve)

2)It's so cool that you don't just expect him to keep up with your schedule, and if he can't, it's just too bad for him and for everyone else. Amazing how far we'll bend ourselves out of shape for someone "more important," isn't it?

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I like to think it's pretty clear that I'm mostly debating what would be best for Isaac -- and how I can best fulfill his needs while also allowing myself to have fun. I don't actually feel a need to end every post with "Wow, I love my kid so much!" I find that my actions and behavior overall make that pretty clear.

There is (professional, licensed, officially-sanctioned) childcare at Worldcon but you have to pay for it. I'm sure there would probably also be people going around saying "I'll watch your kid for you, no problem," but then there would be trust issues, obviously.

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

Obviously, anonymous, you are not a parent, and have no inkling of how much time each parent spends every day going over the logistics of how to BE a parent and still be a functioning member of society. Especially a single parent.

You see a person being inconvenienced; I see a mother so concerned for her child's well being that she's not just going to dump him off any old place and go off to have fun, but, she's taking time, thinking things out and trying to accomodate his needs as well as her own natural need for R&R.

You, anonymous, can take your ignorant assumption and shove it.

[xochiquetzl]

Much like you were careful enough to realize that this post makes you sound like an asshole and post it anonymously?

You should be aware that posting anonymous flames in people's LJs makes you look like a coward.

[azurelunatic]

What the hell? Dude, you're seriously on your last wingnut of sanity. Planning logistics with a child to consider != inconvenience.

[thamiris.livejournal.com]

Joan, I just wanted to pop by and say that the anonymous person up there is not only wrong, but stupid as well. "You should be careful to realize..."? The writing suggests someone too challenged even to understand the letter of your posts, let alone the spirit. *hugs*

[emrinalexander.livejournal.com]

Careful to realize what? Dear cowardly anonymous fucktard: Are you a complete moron? Do you REALIZE all the planning and waiting and stuff Joan went through because she wanted more than anything to be a parent?

So, Anonymous can take their ignorant ass-umptions and shove them.

[retch.livejournal.com]

ooh, girgirl and I wanted to go to the LOTR exhibit as well! :) Want to provide the fan hookup? We're planning on picking up our badges on Wednesday, so we'll see you at registration! :)

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

well, you kind of had to make your reservations for the LOTR exhibit weeks in advance, LOL ... anyway, I'm sure we'll manage to hook up! You got my phone numbers right??

[retch.livejournal.com]

doh! Really? Reservation? At a museum? Wierdness...

yup, got the phone numbers! :) See you in a couple days!

yay, maybe we still can!

[retch.livejournal.com]

Well, the website for the LOTR exhibit at the Museum of Science, that's the one right, seems to have tickets available at all hours, I haven't taken it all the way to finalizing the order, but I did everything up to it asking for my contact info and it seems to be letting me order for a random time (11:30am) on Wednesday...

So when were you guys thinking of going?

Re: yay, maybe we still can!

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

wow, really, cool. Last time I checked it looked like they were booked up, but if you can get a slot, that's great.

My friends have a reservation for Wednesday 10-10:30. I'm actually skipping the LOTR exhibit because it's $19 and I'm trying to be frugal, but I'm going to meet them there and we'll do the Museum of Science afterward, and then find some other Boston touristy stuff to do. You're welcome to join us!

Re: yay, maybe we still can!

[retch.livejournal.com]

we got tickets for the 10am time slot. :) We'll definitely hook up with you guys. :) The museum sounds fun!