Bringing Baby to Realm Makers: How I Made It Work (and Loved It)

This July I traveled to Realm Makers, a Christian Fiction Writing Conference, with my husband and 9-month-old daughter. The conference this year was very different than my first year in 2023 - and I'm not just talking about location. Traveling there, the season of life I'm in compared to two years ago, and paying for the trip were all drastically different.

Here's my experience traveling with a baby and my top recommendations to help give you the best writing experience as a new mama!

1. When flying with a baby, buy them their own seat

Because of the season of life Briston and I are in (with owning a small business Texas Outlaw Running), we have the luxury of traveling together. It is a wonderful blessing.

That being said, traveling with a 9-month-old is not easy. Because we were on vacation with Briston's (my husband's family) leading up to the event, we flew from Pensacola, FL to Grand Rapids, MI. We had one connecting flight in Charlotte, NC.

My first recommendation when flying with a baby: Buy them their own seat. This is more expensive, but it allows you, your spouse, and the baby to be more comfortable. Plus, you can bring their car seat-in-one stroller (like the Doona or Even Flow) and collapse it into the seat. The baby can then nap in his or her car seat, and you don't feel crammed.

The conference took place in Grand Rapids, Michigan - a beautiful, CLEAN city. The weather there is perfect in July (low 60s in the morning, high 70s in the evenings). And the breeze is cool when the wind blows. Being from Texas, the wind here just feels like a hot blow dryer.

2. Find creative ways to help pay for expenses

Having an entrepreneurial husband means always thinking of ways to maximize revenue while minimizing expenses. Since we own a running company, Briston decided to host a race in Grand Rapids the weekend of the conference. This meant that race registrations paid for our travel, lodging, and meals. The only thing I paid for out of our pocket was my ticket to the conference (which was $650).

If I could offer any encouragement when traveling to conferences like these (especially for a career like writing that doesn't guarantee profit), it's to think of creative ways that can help pay for your trip.

Can you create and sell something leading up to the event, so you're not having to pull from your savings or put yourself in more credit card debt? Working an extra side hustle to help pay for expenses is a great way to keep yourself less stressed about finances and more focused on what you're there for - your writing!

Here are some ideas of side hustles:

• Arts and crafts

• Cooking

• Baby/dog sitting

• Garage sale

• House Cleaning

3. Have a trusted family member watch your baby while you attend the conference

With me attending the conference and Briston hosting a race, we had to have someone watch our baby. Thankfully, my mom came in clutch. She works remotely and was able to meet us in Michigan.

This took another ease off of me and allowed me to focus on the conference, rather than feeling torn between my writing and my child.

My next recommendation is to ask close, trusted family members if they'd be interested in watching your children while you attend the conference. This can be at the conference or a family member's house. Originally, we thought about leaving Bryleigh with my mom, but since my mom could travel, she decided to come and hang out. It gave us a chance to spend morning and meal times together, and she got to see a part of a world that I'm so passionate about!

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I talk about the difference in my mindset and confidence entering Realm Makers compared to my first year attending!