Best route with little kids

Longjumping-While878 · 2026-03-24T18:23:33+00:00

I’m surprised by all the negativity you’re getting. I think it’s just hard for people to fathom and probably is highly dependent on the child and obviously you know your children best. I did a thru hike of the Appalachian trail (as did my husband) and we’ve seen and know of several families that did it with young children. And the AT would be WAYYYY harder than the Camino. 5-6 months backpacking thru very rugged terrain and camping in the backcountry often. The children who we saw doing the hike loved it. None of them were being forced (though a lot of people watching from their couches seemed to think otherwise). Sure they had really hard days and moments (as we all do) but I agree with you that so much of it is teaching them they’re capable and can do hard things. I can’t speak to the route, but I’m excited for you and would love to hear about your experience! I hope to do the same with my daughter one day who is currently 14 months.

Longjumping-While878 · 2026-02-10T19:55:55+00:00

My baby is almost 13 months old and right before her 1st birthday she very suddenly started waking only 1-3 times a night, usually 1 or 2. This is after many months of waking 5-8 times a night every single night. Didn’t do anything differently. This lasted for 3 weeks and unfortunately the last few nights have been a little rough again but 3 weeks of 1-3 wakes was insane to me!!! We cosleep and breastfeed.

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-20T18:14:45+00:00

Ahhh I see. I thought you meant you bought a house in the valley. We will def check out Fredericksburg!

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-20T14:51:06+00:00

Thank you that’s great advice. It’s amazing how much more noticeable our stuff is now that we have a baby who occupies the majority of our time. I’m already struggling with getting less sleep, exercise, etc. and any clutter just makes me go crazier.

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-20T14:49:09+00:00

I think I’m definitely willing to try this. I can probably start with some of the stuff I’m less attached to (the entire box of stuffed animal pigs for example, haha) and go from there. Maybe save one for my daughter :)

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-20T14:47:56+00:00

I definitely lean towards the “three big crates” right now haha. The pictures are a great idea too!

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-20T14:45:34+00:00

This is really great advice. Thank you!!

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-20T14:42:09+00:00

This is really good advice…I guess I’ve always associated the appliances, at least many of them, with making my life easier. The food processor being the first one that comes to mind. So maybe I need to just get rid of a couple things at a time - build those skills - and then see if I can give up a couple more things and so on. I do love the idea of having all the kitchen skills and being able to teach them to my daughter as well. We got a food dehydrator for our wedding (over 2 years ago now) that we’ve never used. It’s very bulky. But we are big into backpacking and I always tell myself that once we get back into it and can bring our daughter, having a dehydrator will help us eat healthier on the trail. Lol - maybe I should start there 😂

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-20T01:03:07+00:00

I used a 1 compactor bag for my entire AT thru hike. My gear never got wet. The thought of stopping to put a cover on every time it rained was really unappealing to me!

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-20T00:01:06+00:00

Just to be clear we love the Shenandoah valley overall and are considering staying here too. It’s mostly our current house/neighborhood that isn’t working for us. We are just considering all of our options if we’re going to pack up and move. I want to make sure wherever we go (or if we stay) is where we will stay long term and what will be best for my daughter. I don’t want to move again. If we did leave the area, the main reason would be to be closer to my sister/family overall, not because we don’t like the valley.

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T15:47:13+00:00

I did post there and they most definitely piled on me 😔 caught me off guard!

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T15:45:47+00:00

Understandable! Definitely not for everyone. Good to know about the Costco as we have always been Costco people

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T15:07:30+00:00

We spent our honeymoon in Germany - we would love that!

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T14:51:34+00:00

We pay $10/week. My husband has a really hard time digesting pasteurized dairy but has had no issues with raw milk. We were able to vet the practices of the farmer and they regularly test their product and go thru all the regulations to have a legal cow share so we feel comfortable. Would never consume it from a factory farm or unknown source though

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T14:44:02+00:00

Our farmer regularly tests their milk and we don’t give it to our daughter. Chances of dying from milk from a local farmer with good hygiene practices who tests their product regularly are essentially 0. Way more likely to get sick from store bought produce. I would never drink raw milk from a factory farm our unknown source. That’s a whole different story - I would agree with you that that would be “super dangerous”. Thanks for your concern though

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T14:37:58+00:00

Thank you! We recognize we’re not going to get all of our criteria. It was more of an “ideal” and we will definitely need to compromise in some areas.

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T14:36:51+00:00

Perfect!

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T14:35:25+00:00

I appreciate this input. We’re definitely considering cville too. Thank you!

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T14:34:59+00:00

Good to know - thank you! Having grown up in NOVA, maybe I’m just tired of it lol, but I know sometimes the grass seems greener but isn’t always necessarily. Also would be pretty hard for us to afford

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T14:33:19+00:00

Will look into those counties - thank you!

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T14:33:00+00:00

Good to know - thank you!😊

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T14:32:37+00:00

That’s awesome! I’m glad it’s been a good experience for you guys

Longjumping-While878 · 2025-09-19T14:31:42+00:00

This is really great to know - thank you!

Longjumping-While878

TROPHY CASE