Hi there,
I am the mom with the Help with a 10 year old Sarria to Santiago thread. We just returned. I found as advised that my daughter did much better than either of us expected. One poster had said "never underestimate a 10 year old" and that became her personal mantra and motto and she quoted it almost daily.
A few things I discovered:
We walked an average of 8 miles per day. One day we did 12. For the last mile of the 12, I ended up carrying her backpack in my front, mine on my back so that did seem to be a mile too far.
The collecting of stamps, stopping for an ice cream at a bar/cafe and any animal sightings went a long way. I allowed her to stamp my credential as well, which led to me realizing her joy was more important than my need for evenly stamped "perfect" page. We had far more stamps than we needed.
Although many had warned us of a crowded Camino the last 100km we found that was not true. We tended to stick to starts and stays way OFF the
Brierley guide, which most everyone seemed to be walking. This had us leaving at midway points and stopping at midway points on the
Brierley stages - the off-timing kept us away from the usual times people departed en masse. We spent many a time completely alone. We started at 8am and ended each day at 1pm. Even with all our little stops along the way. This also gave us easier access to accommodations with all private rooms/bath, which I felt was the right choice for my first Camino and what I would do again with a child. A child having their own bed, bathroom went a long way to her personal sense of adventure and safety and I wasn't sleeping with one eye open (even if that fear was unrealistic). Might not be the same for boys.
We purchased aluminum walking sticks for 8.50 euros each and they ended up really helping us both emotionally and physically. Added to the sense of adventure and her stick became a friend and ally named simply "Stick."
She was constantly greeted on the Camino by adults from all over the world, given high 5's or bravos! and even some red licorice. She (nor I) never got a blister because we didn't walk far enough to create that kind of exhaustion in either of us. After a rest, she happily explored. We also saw a family with a 7 year old and an 11 year old, and another with a 10 year old and a 13 year old. It was immediate bonding and walking together for a spell.
We had both brought 3 sets total of clothes - the one we wore, a night outfit and a back up walking outfit. And a jacket each and a pair of walking sandals. We found neither of us ever used the second set of Camino walking clothes and rather preferred the idea of a "uniform" to walk in each day and a comfy change out in the afternoon and evening. We also didn't need 3 pairs of socks and could have done with just one really as we washed clothes each day and hung to dry. We left the extra set of clothes/socks at a pension. We also left many toiletry items and carried only what we truly needed, stopping in Farmacia's for any needs. We had read do not take anything "Just in Case" and that proved to be true. We only needed toothbrush/paste, face cream, brush, deodorant, hair ties, Compeed, Neosporin, KT Pro tape, sunscreen, my meds. Only in Santiago, did I splurge for a tube of mascara which became amusing to me and part of my story. Her backpack was much smaller than mine, only her clothes and 2 loved stuffed toys. I carried my clothes and all toiletries. As we stayed in pensions, casa rurales or any private room/bath, we never needed our towel or shampoo and soap as all were provided so we left all those items that we were carrying pretty quickly. Allowing her to decorate her backpack with fun items hanging off - also made her feel more like a stylish pilgrim on her own journey.
We did download two favorite playlists on Apple Music and yet we only listened to music one day when it was especially mentally challenging. What I suspect would be week 2 of the standard 500 mile hike.
As for being the parent of the child, I had to accept the Camino would not afford me the bonding time with adults/other pilgrims that I would receive had I walked alone. We had to go out of our way to introduce ourselves and talk to pilgrims at bars and cafes to meet them and learn their stories. I did this because I am a writer and nothing is more important to me than hearing a story, but know you can work at it to get that community bonding feeling of friends for a lifetime that many share after their Camino. I ended up meeting 3 people that affected me and I do wish I had their numbers, but alas, lost sight of them.
Our entire trip: 1 travel day from US to Paris to Madrid to Santiago. Taxi from Santiago to Sarria. 2 rest days outside of Sarria (120km not 100km). Walking Camino from Sarria to Santiago took 8 days. 3 more days in Santiago to rest and enjoy. 1 day Santiago to Madrid, stay the night in Madrid due to plane departure times for Paris/US. Next morning, Madrid to Paris - to US.
There was only one day our planned 8 mile day turned into 12 and that was because some of the albergues, pensions etc made note of "no children." This put us at Pension The Way, which was wonderful. But if you are using Booking.com or an online app, which I did do, to seek out private rooms and book if needed one day in advance, do make note to scroll down and see their policy for children. I was surprised many do not accept children - but would accept pets!
Lastly, as this was my first Camino, I will admit 3 days up to leaving I became filled with anxiety. I couldn't sleep and had an upset stomach which manifested itself in unsavory ways. I was not concerned with my own safety - I was concerned for my daughter's and truly had doubts of - Am I being a responsible parent forcing my child into my dream? How can I truly know this is safe as I drag her to another country? Once in Sarria, we stayed 2 days at a country heaven (Pazo Torre do Barrio) to acclimate to the time zone and we were so well treated and cared for I started to relax. But it was really only after our first day of walking from Sarria to Casa Morgade - that all fears were gone and never, ever returned. Not only did we always feel completely safe - we felt completely seen and embraced. Saying and hearing "Buen Camino" really opened our hearts. Believe me, I felt much safer in Spain than I do in the US.
If I can help you in any way, please let me know. So many helped me here I would love to pay it forward.
Katherine
