Mary Poppins

I wish I could say it was via umbrella, but I did fly to the Faccioli’s. Although I am far from practically-perfect-in-every-way, they call me their Mary Poppins. I hear it might be because I absentmindedly sing while doing household tasks, or because I just adore the kids, or because my personality fits well in this home.

Yes, there is so much to see and enjoy in Italy: the architecture, the unique cities, the gorgeous scenery… but when people ask me, “What has been your favorite part of Italy?” I hesitate. I think of the places I’ve visited and foods I’ve tasted, but my favorite?

“Just being with the Facciolis,” I respond confidently. This family has my heart. With me they have shared their heart, their culture, their time, and their home. The generosity I have received is humbling.

Nannying has been a real part of my experience here, although not the flashiest or most glamorous aspect. While I’ve already highlighted so many wonderful parts of my experience in Italy, this may be one of the more important ones.

During the weekdays when Francesco and Maria are both at work, I get to spend time with the kiddos. Usually most of my time is with Carlo and Davide. Our responsibilities include ordering the bedroom, homework and English studies. Yes, the kids have homework during the summer here. That may sounds shockingly inhumane to young American ears, and I was a little taken aback at the start too. However, the homework gives us a structure of something that consistently needs to be done daily, and I appreciate routine.

My favorite chore is the reading mandate. Davide already enjoys reading and can do that on his own. Carlo, on the other hand, has to be persuaded. Thankfully, when he reads to me in Italian we are both learning and improving our comprehension. One day I unlocked a hack that I didn’t expect to work as well as it has.

I was at the park with the boys and Carlo was getting bored. “Reading time!” I announced, because I couldn’t think of what else to do. Carlo gave me his funny, raised-eyebrow, dramatically-tilted-head look. He knew there weren’t any books at the park. But I pulled out my phone and turned to the only children’s books I had downloaded in multiple languages… on the gospel library app! I clicked on the Old Testament (good common ground for more than just Christian religions), and placed it in Carlos hands. I asked him to choose a story. What would it be: Adam and Eve, David and Goliath, Queen Esther? I love these old stories. Carlo logically started at the beginning, Genesis. So he read out loud about the creation and our first parents. Then Carlo did a thing I didn’t see coming… he kept going. I just kept my mouth shut and let him go. That first day we made it all the way past the flood and Noah’s ark.

“That’s enough,” he said and I nodded and agreed, acting as though I’d assumed he’d read that much all along. The greater surprise came the next day when it was reading time and Carlo suggested our book, “Adamo ed Eva?” Our little reading time is now simply titled just that. “Hey wanna read Adamo ed Eva?” As of today, we’ve read past Moses, King David, and our next story is Jonah. I think Carlo enjoys it almost as much as I do. I’m hoping we’ll get some New Testament under our belt before the end of the summer.

At first I wasn’t sure how the parents would react… they don’t mind if I’m reading the Bible with their kids right? I wasn’t sure if it’s my place… but they were delightedly amused when they found out. Maria speaking to her friends remarked, “Yes she has him reading the Bible! It’s perfect- reading comprehension, Italian lessons, and catechism all at once!” Mary Poppins points for me.

The rest of our time is spent with me trying to find creative new ways to engage Carlo and Davide so they forget entirely about the video games luring them in from the basement. The battle never ends. Before it got so hot, I made it a daily policy that we get outside during the morning and play in the backyard or go to a park. That is difficult to enforce when the sun beats down. Aside from that we have done puzzles, drawings, games, made stop-motion movies with legos, written story-books for Emma, swam in the backyard pool, and made food together. If anyone has ideas of how to productively entertain young boys, send them my way please.

Pietro and Maddalena help make lunch and we eat all together. I enjoy playing with Emma when we get the chance, but she usually goes to kindergarten during the day. Yes, she has kindergarten during summer too, although I get the feeling summertime kindergarten is more like a daily organized play date for the community of toddlers. My human development classes tell me that play and social interactions with peers are the most important kind of learning she can get at this stage, so it has my stamp of approval.

Kids are special. They bring color to the world. They make life special. They have so much energy, so much hope, so much love. Sometimes I wish I had found that second star to the right and never grown up. Why do we let that light and wonder and magic get dull as we age? I don’t think it needs to be that way. Cheese only gets better with age. Maybe life can be that way too. It just takes a willingness to look around and remember. It isn’t hard to remember when a four-year-old has her arms around your neck and you’ve scooped her up into a hug.