Starting school run, no option but to walk mud track

[LittleMigraines]

My eldest is starring nursery, however as I don't drive (medical condition) the only way to get there is to walk via a country lane road, or up a mud track lane through woods. I'm getting very nervous about this as I will have 2 DC for this. Any tips or advice please.

Wellies - walking boots for you if possible - breathable waterproof trousers - as basic ones can get wet on inside - decent coats and very good torches/lights --child helmet lights possibly - pushchair umbrella

You do get used to long wet/cold walks but you and baby if going back will be doing twice as much walking and IME some schools aren't great with wellies/wet coats - so may need to take them back as well.

Meeting dangerous people in the woods is much less likely to happen than you think. You will be fine. Take a back carrier for the youngest in case they get tired, or a buggy if it will make it up the track and invest in a head torch and some proper warm waterproofs for winter. You will be fine. Once you get to half term you will wonder why you were even worried about it in the first place.

Zip up muddy puddles for the children, sling for scooping up tired ones, good walking boots for you and indoor shoes for the kids that can be left at school on a hook.
I live in the countryside and wouldn’t take a buggy on a lane without pavement.

I would pop the baby in a carrier and strap the toddler into the pram. Toddler can have snacks or tablet on the walk to keep them in until they are used to it.

Is it a morning nursery session or afternoon? Five days a week like a school nursery? Or longer days/not all week?

Is there somewhere closer to the nursery that you can entertain baby - mum & toddler groups, library, etc etc - or will you be walking there and back home every day?

Buggy board - side pod though not sure it would be great down a mud track - sling for baby and pushchair for 3 year old - I have seen some ride on boards more seats like things that attach to pushchairs though they seem pricy may be some second hand - and bribery food - as you may find walk back after nursery difficult with tired child.

I would try the walk now with children even start doing it regularly - so you all get used to it and you see what is and isn't practical.

I walk on footpaths almost every day and have never felt scared.

Walking through the woods is likely to be far, far safer than walking along a country road with no pavement and two small kids. Lucky children to have the opportunity of being close to nature every day. It might be stressful for you when the weather is bad but I bet that your son will remember it fondly.

Could you ask someone to keep an eye and track you online whilst you walk until you feel more confident?

Think logically about it.

People who want to annoy other individuals are more likely to hang around populated areas than to get themselves bored, cold and potentially wet waiting on a rarely used track.

But as mentioned above - get prepared and take phone, wellies, alarm, headtorch etc. Definitely bring snacks for yourself and children as it's a fairly long walk for little ones, no longer than my mum did with 3 under 5 though when my brother started school. You'll all get used to it.

Your little one might be very tired returning from nursery and might well want to go in the buggy - can you carry your younger child if this happens? Would a buggy board be useable/practical?

It sound like a needs must situation rather than a choice.

I would walk through the woods, no question about it. Stranger attacks are vanishingly rare- I know you hear about them on the news but that's because they are unusual. Being hit by a car OTOH is so common that it doesn't usually get reported, which gives people a skewed idea about risks.

It's a school nursery, so the 30 hours a week. Once getting there I could go for a walk to the local shops, but I was mostly thinking just to come back home and give youngest a break to move around. I have seen the board things that go on the back, but wasn't sure whether they are good for non pavements and would have to get one second hand as too pricey for me new.
I think you're all right, once I've done it a few times I should be fine, it's my anxiety making it worse. I will have a look for some walking shoes and see how much they are too.

If it just your eldest going, I'm assuming he doesn't have to go for you to work?
I'd just wait till school, possibly a better route and some primary schools do have buses. (A tiny state school does have a school bus as you can't get to it without a car!).

Thank you all so much for the reassuring replies. I never thought about it being a rare occurance and that's why you hear about it in the news.

It is definitely a needs must, so again thank you to those that are understanding for me at the moment.

I recommend silly songs for when it's wet and people are tired 'show me the way to go home, pack up your troubles, I love to go a wandering or climbing up the sunshine mountain' - helped me through many long walks with small children. Or practice spellings etc if you're feeling educational.

We had a cross country walk through woods to and from primary school. It was brilliant, the best part of the day and great exercise for the children, perfect for letting off steam and seeing nature evolve throughout the year. Just wear wellie boots and enjoy!

Wellies, and Hi-vis jackets to warn any traffic; you can get one with a flashing light.

If you're far north and will be walking in darkness in winter, take a torch.

Another positive I found was walking home really helped my children to decompress after school - they 'exploded' out of school with so much to tell me, often stressed from expectations and the walk home gave them time to transition to 'not school' and better able to relax at home.

Just want to wish you good luck. I know personally how anxiety can build something up in your mind.

I hope that once you get started it's all fairly simple, the anticipation and worrying is often much worse than the event itself

Get some wellies and learn to drive (if you have access to a car). I walked our children to nursery/school when on mat leave, we only have 1 car so I had to. I actually walked further to avoid remote muddy footpaths, takes about 35min with slow moving children the long way around. There was a high profile murder in the middle of the day half a mile away on a well trodden footpath (random attack on a lone female) so it is something you tend to think about because it did happen here not that long ago. I wouldn't want to walk along remote paths now (I ran along paths on my own for years marathon training, but now and with children I'd aways try to stick to busy areas). Is there absolutely no footpath along the road and is it blind bends? If its straight roads would some hi vis clothing and walking facing the traffic not be safer than a path through woods?

Perhaps you will get friendly with someone there and they can offer you a lift for petrol money. Its not going to be fun when its pouring with rain or snowing.

It sounds like it is about a mile walk or is it more?

Wellies all round and good waterproofs - you can normally get kids ones secondhand because they are outgrown so quickly. And plenty of snacks, especially for the afternoon.

If you can get a balance bike that might help - DS’s had solid rubber tyres so it wouldn’t get punctured off road. Get as light a one as possible though in case you end up carrying it - again, look secondhand.

How busy is the country road? If it's a lane, then get some high vis vests and use it. If it's a busy A road then I'd use the path and get the children puddle suits and wellies.

Why do you think you would come across weird people or be attacked? Is it a busy footpath, or just the odd dog walker? There is very little probability of anything happening to you. I doubt you'd see anyone else.

I walk regularly alone on footpaths and honestly find it's my imagination and thoughts that cause the anxiety i need to stop reading psychological thrillers. I have never felt threatened or worried by another person.