BootsnAll Travel Community

I am leaving in just under three weeks on a RTW with my seven year old daughter and the nerves are really setting in.

I think what triggered these nerves was I watched my little girl run into school today laughing and joking with a friend and it made me realise she's only going to be there another couple of weeks and then we'll be hitting the big open road.

I can't fit everything we need into my rucksack, a vaude cimone 55 + 8, and I am having nerves about our intended route.

Originally we planned to veer a little off the beaten tourist track, however I am getting nervous as I am not sure if that plan is so safe. My nerves may be blowing things out of proportion but how safe do you think we'll be going off the tourist trail in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Phillipines?

I think you will find that once you arrive all those nerves will go away. There will surely be times when you are anxious or a little nervous but that feeling of impending doom will go away and you'll probably veer off the beaten track more often than you think.

Don't put too much pressure on it. If you do you do and if you don't you don't, no big deal.

You are giving your daughter an amazing experience that she will probably carry with her for a long time. Just enjoy the nervousness you have right now, it is part of the experience... you probably feel more alive now than you ever did before and may get even more emotional before you leave. It is all part of the experience.

Boy, can I relate. We're leaving in just over three weeks for 2 1/2 years biking from Alaska to Argentina - with our 10-year-old twin boys. The last few days they've been doing a lot of really fun things at school and are coming home so happy - and here I'm going to yank them out of school for THREE YEARS?!?! I know they will learn way more on the road than they ever would in the classroom, and that they will have more fun - but it still bothers me. I think I'm just inthe pre-trip jitters stage.

So - we'll both dive off that cliff at the same time and we'll both have a great time! We just have to get there.

I can't really comment on traveling with children,but I can comment on fitting everything into your pack. I don't know your intended route, but remember in most places you can replace things as needed. Aside from medicine and maybe some techy stuff, you can find toiletries, clothes, almost everything. It won't be exactly what you want, but it'll be fine. I'm surprised you just have a 55 liter pack for two of you. I had a 55 liter for just me, and it was full most of the time. Will your daughter have a small pack of her own?

this blog:

www.sixintheworld.com

might help. a family went traveling, with children younger than 7!

We have been traveling the world with our daughter for almost 2 years and she was 5 when we began. We have been off the tourist trail in places like Morocco , Montenegro and Turkey and she has already seen so much more than most people see in a lifetime.

It has been an absolutely tremendous experience for all 3 of us and we plan to continue this for many years. My daughter is 7 now and she wants to beat the world traveling record holders ( a couple from Switzerland who have been traveling the world for over 20 years). LOL!

It is normal to be nervous before going. Once you begin, it gets easier. Doing it is much easier than planning and preparing.

You will love the family bonding and will meet wonderful people where ever you roam. Do use your head and take precautions, but remember to cherish everything that comes your way.

Some of it may well be hard. She might get sick ( we have been to doctors, dentists and hospitals while traveling and gotten a few unpleasant bugs). You might be left out in the middle of no where by a bus ( as happened to us in rural Turkey off the tourist track) but most likely you will be enriched by all of it and later have a shared adventure story even about the worse moments.

Trust your instincts and embrace the adventure! If you decide you do not like it, you can always come home early....although you will more likely be wanting to stay longer.

Carpe Diem! Family travel is really the best! Go slow, take time to play and bask in your love for one another.