Nurturing Nonni (Nonni is Italian for Grandparents)   encourages, ask questions, answers questions, supports parents, aunts, uncles, foster parents, nannies, and all those that walk with children through their life’s journey) This Nonni received the name being an Italian American Grandma!…Nurturing Nonni  was born in upstate NY to first generation Italian Americans. The family moved to Maryland when she was just six months old…moving because of her father’s  job. The art of family was paramount. Both  parents were very involved in their children’s social and educational lives. (They kept them busy) Organized activities were not really big when she was growing up, but the children kept busy helping with her parents’ volunteer work with the church, Italian festivals and local political rallies.

When her parents became grandparents, she saw first hand what that was all about. She did not know her grandparents. Her mother said more than once “You can’t touch being a grandparent with a ten foot pole”. Her father said “It just feels great and I feel like a mentor”. He also said he didn’t have much advice for his grandchildren because he felt he led through example….and he did… they both did….

Raising two amazing daughters who are 27 months apart, she focused  on their complimenting personalities, their differences and their passions. And now, as a grandparent, she  shares the same feelings her parents felt.  Grandparents can love, respect and just take joy in being with their grandchildren without “spoiling” which we can talk about as we blog….

Nurturing Nonni  taught parenting classes for 18 years and met families from the United States as well as from different parts of the world. The common theme was  all were  trying to create homes and lives  children felt safe, loved, nurtured  and well cared for. So how can we nurture ourselves first to then nurture those around us?