hiking with a child

[Ed]

----- Original Message -----
From: Brad Quentin
To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 10:53 PM
Subject: hiking with a child


we are planning on walking the road this june with our daughter.  she will
be 21 months old when we go.  i'd like to hear from anyone who has any
experience walking the road with a youngster.  i'm especially interesting
in hearing what kind of gear poeple have used and what kind of distance we
can expect to cover daily.

brad

------------------------------

I admire your courageous spirit, but for me it is totally and utterly
unthinkable to take a 21 month old child on the Camino.  I remember when
mine were that age and there were times when we had some frightful scenes
when we just tried to get them to walk to the local supermarket!  (And with
onlookers wondering why my children were screaming!)

Of course I'm sure you don't intend your kid to do much actual walking on
the Camino, so it means carrying her or pushing her along in a buggy
together with your own baggage - not something I would relish even on tarred
roads.    And then there's the heat, different food/water. long days, basic
accomodation/toilet facilites  etc etc to contend with.  I'm just thinking,
I didn't even consider bringing my kids to Disney (Florida) until they were
at least 5 years old, as I felt it was only by then that they were better
able to cope with the conditions and when they themselves could
appreciate/enjoy the experience.  But even at that age there was some
difficult days.

I'd be inclined to go on a more traditional 'sea-side' holiday with a child
of  21 months or, if you're fortunate, you might have a relative who would
look after her whilst you were away yourselves on the Camino.

But everyone's kids are different.  The above are purely my personal
thoughts as  I reckon I'm going to have enough trouble just looking after
myself when I set out this coming May!

Even so, very best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

Ed
(Ware, Herts, UK)








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