AO Retreat 2015: 'At Home'

[Joy]

Hi Ladies,
I am very new to CM - this being said, I have some "silly" questions. I have just found out about CM and really believe it's a great fit for our family (5yr old, 2yr old and one on the way). I had every intention to go to the Great HomeSchool Convention next weekend in Cincinnati, OH to find out more about CM...touch/feel/look through options.

Today I found this forum and website. I saw the announcement for 'At Home' retreat. Is there more information about it? I saw dates (end of July) but I'm wondering which one (either the Homeschool Conference this weekend or the upcoming AO Retreat) would be a better suite for me to attend. Cost details?

I am due with baby #3 at the end of August, and the AO retreat is about 4 hrs drive for me...so this may factor into my decision as well.

Any advice? Details to help me decide? Again...this is all new but I'm getting excited! Thanks!

The AO conference will give you much more information about CM.  I have heard great things about the Cincinnati convention (I live near Indy and tons of other homeschoolers I know attend that one) but I get the impression it is very large (good or bad) and that it would meet the needs of the generic homeschooler.  I think it might also be difficult as a new Charlotte Mason mom to determine what is really CM and what is not.  There is more than one curriculum who touts themselves to have CM-style stuff when in actuality they do only one small thing the same as CM.  I remember seeing this myself as a new CM mom at the Indiana state convention years ago. 

Personally, I would spend this time learning about CM and would skip the Cincinnati convention.  This forum as well as the main AO site has tons of information to help support you in your journey.  Since your oldest is five, you have some time before officially starting lessons.  Delve into learning about CM and if you can make the AO conference, great!