I noni

In England we have breakfast clubs, before school clubs, after school clubs, holiday clubs, holiday camps, wrap around care, homework clubs, iPads.

Here in Italy, they have i noni ‘the grandparents’.

Every park, beach, soft play, leisure venue, supermarket etc you see out of school hours, is occupied with kids and their noni or maybe just the nona or the nono, depending on what time of day it is.

Italy simply would not function without this valuable and FREE source of childcare and they appear to do it willingly!

Italians simply love children! I reference my ‘That Moment’ post; after the panic had subsided I reminded myself of this fact and, had I remembered, I wonder if I would have reacted differently? In England it seems we have come to be suspicious of everyone and trust no one, yet here in Italy there is a much calmer air in areas mass populated by children. It is a given that the noni keep watch. It was, indeed a kindly nona who returned my beloved offspring to me on the beach- I can almost hear her say (retrospectively of course, and in Italian!) ‘just doin’ my dooty’!

My children are fabulous and exhausting! Their noni are great in their own ways with varying degrees of energy between the 4 of them but to expect the Italian level of care seems a long reach! C, M, H, P- if you’re reading this, do add your comment …..!!!!