Buonasera,
I am trying to learn Italian again….I just can’t stop…I throw a few words to our grandchildren (due nipoti…)…
I am grateful for the travel we have done together. From our trip across the United States in the 1970’s (which we still talk about) to a trip to Canada that we are still trying to get to…(we will)….We have been to Europe twice as well as multiple trips to Costa Rica, Jamaica and Mexico…lovely to travel….Memories to share….My husband is turning 60 this year and I am grateful that he continues to try to be as healthy as he can by eating what he thinks is right most of the time (with the human exception of the sweet tooth)…He is active and mountain bikes, plays tennis and raquet ball, just a natural…Recently he has taken up the hobby of remote control airplane flying in our field. I really need to write about him more he is most amazing…He is always helping people, I think helping people is a wonderful way to possibly learn something you don’t know too much about.

Now, that said about my amazing husband, I want to talk a little about my amazing daughter…..She was diagnosed in December with MS….she is a beautiful, strong, smart and loving young woman…She is healthy….She took control by learning all she could about this disease and then learning all she could and hasn’t stopped learning about the treatments, diet and our cells…You see, so many doctors keep saying that diet is not connected or there is not scientific evidence, but the more is studied and the more we are open to the fact that if we nourish our cells, we can perhaps help to be in a position to help ourselves through the times when our bodies do not want to cooperate.
I am in awe of what she has researched, shared, discussed, taught….did I mention she is a very talented artist and faux finisher? She has a sister who is just 27 months older than her and they adore each other..It is beautiful to see the support and love they give each other…I am grateful…to be on the planet…..
Cio,
Nonni

February is heart month. My heart decorations go up February first and I keep them up the entire month. Part of it for me is the transition from New Years, so why not go right into Heart Month…Heart Month means many things to many people; to me it means awareness of heart disease. My dear father had heart disease from a very young age his late 30’s) and he lived with it until his death at age 91 as I have mentioned before.
He was the national president of the Mended Heart Organization so as a family we learned a thing or two about heart disease and how to help support those living with it.
I am learning more and more about us humans and how hard it is for us to change our eating habits to be healthy. I learned from my daughter Laura recently to throw a few handfuls of spinach onto your dishes that you prepare for dinner…if it is a side of veggies, throw some spinach on there. If it is an “egg white” omelet, throw in some spinach…I am also learning about kale from Laura…What I’m saying is, it is never too late to add new things to your food intake…and remember, diet doesn’t mean “take away”, it also means “add to”…..Hope you get to enjoy this beautiful winter snow…

I strive to be healthy on the inside (the part of me you can’t see) so I can live with quality in my years to come. It is not easy…as we age I am learning we have to move our bodies..it doesn’t seem to matter how we do that, we just need to do it. I believe we are like cars. The fuel that goes in needs to be good or we won’t go anywhere!
Happy Heart Month….

Ciao,

Nurturing Nonni

Be kind: tonight I was talking with my sister and one of the things we talked about was being kind. Helping just one person have a better day matters. If that person is a child or an elderly person two misunderstood generations in our contemporary society (in my opinion), then you have done something huge! If no one is watching you, that is even better….you see, when we do nice things for people when no one is watching, it comes from the heart. I believe empathy comes from our own experiences.
Say Thank You: Why not! It is easy to say those two words. My children help their children remember these words by using them in their home and with others. Their children hear them say it, and they say it too!
Volunteer: This does not have to be a large commitment. It can be as easy as helping a neighbor when they ask, or if you have the time, it could be a scheduled commitment.
February is “heart” month….so I’ll write about it next month….Enjoy the snow and embrace the beautiful winter to appreciate spring!
Ciao,
Nurturing Nonni

With the coming of the new year, Nonni has a thought  that I have said out loud (just a little)…

“In Every Onion There Is A Flower” —- To me this means after the onion is peeled and we have discarded (in our house this means feed it to the chickens) what we can’t use, we get down to the sweetest and most tender part of the onion. It is beautiful, unspoiled and yes, by now we are crying from peeling it, but other than that, I think you know what I mean…Many times we have to take time and patience to get to what I call the “Flower that is in the onion”….don’t stop, keep peeling in the new year and I hope you see all the flowers that are there just waiting in your onions…

Ciao,

Nonni

Today is Christmas 2012- I have begun to say out loud that “I am leading with my heart”. I wish for all to lead with their hearts. I am finding that this brings me a calm sense of direction. Leading with our hearts does not mean we are full of emotion or that we can’t make a decision, it means we feel strong regarding our place. Have a wonderful Christmas and try to lead with your heart.
Cio and Merry Christmas
Nurturing Nonni

Last December my father passed away from this earth. He was 91. As a family we have (after a little time) pulled together to celebrate his life, grieve, and begin healing together. My father was a grandfather and a great grandfather. Our family has always been close. My parents played an active role in their grandchildren’s lives by showing up for events, hemming prom gowns, in other words, showing an interest in their grand children’s lives.
Consequently, grand children learned how to communicate with an entire older generation, laugh with them, tease them and love them. My parent’s arms were always opened with big hugs and kisses upon seeing their grand children. Big “bravos” called out from the audience were my parents’ showing how proud they were of their grand children no matter what the performance was. This became routine from the time they were 3 and 4 through college.
Grand parents were always accepted and appreciated. As my father was reached the end of his life on this earth, he was surrounded by these adult children and just a week before by his young great grandchildren. What I have seen, learned, and will continue to pass on is to “be” with the next generation, accept, love, share and keep my arms opened.
Give something to yourself and others today and each day.
Cantiamo e balliamo
NONNI

About a month ago I went to a “nearly new” tot sale.

I bought a ton of toys for under $100.00…A ton of toys “not needed”….

So, a week later, 95% of these items were graciously donated….

I did not realize was I was doing. Instead of the simple developmental games, the kind I used to play with my children…

I was trying to keep up with my grandchildren’s development through plastic!!!!

I know better! I just needed to take a step back…I am happy to say, I’m back on track….

My three year old grandchild and I spent a good 30 minutes or so going on a nature/scavenger hunt. It was simple and so much fun….we looked for things like…something sharp…(my grandchild thought for sure this should be a knife, until we came upon a thorn)…we found multiple seeds, and we found something red and something smooth…

My 10 month old grandchild enjoyed a stroller ride and heard all the language of nature….we also let him touch some of the items for texture….

So, this Nurturing Nonni, is back to nature!!!!!!

Cio

Bon Giorno;

This morning I read that celebrity make moms feel like failures….

I don’t understand this….parents do whatever it takes to keep our family safe,  nurture, listen, talk, encourage, guide, and I could go on and on.  help. If it is within our budget, we can pay for help. If not, we do it on our own. I can not stress enough not to as the expression states “Keep up with the Jones’s”……just destructive…be your own person. Read, ask for help in solving problems, when you have to, get a babysitter…if you do not have family around to lend a hand, call your local girl scout troop leader and have them recommend a babysitter…girl scouts take training in CPR and can be very helpful if in need.

Do not feel like failure…as my friend said, if you are doing it right, you should be very very tired….

Cio,

Nurturing Nonni

Bon Giorgno!

Today, I am attending my adult daughter’s art opening.

It made me think of what is in store for the next generation of artists and musicians. How is creativity being nurtured?

Let me know what you do for your special little ones in terms of creativity…

Children can create very simply…a piece of large paper and a crayon or marker..or chalk…let them work, no rules, maybe some classical music.or background music (without lyrics)…try sitting next to your little artist and create yourself, but use your own piece of paper… use the back of the paper too unless of course you use paint and the paper needs to dry.

A 10 month old may begin by putting the art tool in their mouth, so they can do something different.

I used to put about 1 tablespoon of paint in a ziploc plastic baggie..push the air out. Your little one can then use their fingers to push the paint around in the baggie without even touching the paint…this is science and art!!!!!!

If they are playing video games, they are reacting to something already created for them.

Color outside the lines, think outside the box….(the same or different)….

If our lines are always drawn for us when we are young (especially before the age of 5) how can we learn to think outside the box…problem solve….make decisions. It is all related….

Have fun!

Cio,

Nurturing Nonni

Everybody Needs A Nonni. Nonni says: “Don’t Lose Yourself in your relationship.”….It is easy to do. It is easy to let your partner to make all of the decisions. Stay strong, stay true to yourself…If you have an idea, share it. If it is important to you, state it. Make things matter…Don’t be an “I don’t care”..person or an “It doesn’t matter to me”, person….

In other words, “Don’t forget your favorite color”…..Make a choice, make a decision. We’re all just people…We all make decisions based on the information we have at the time…let people know what you need. They can not tell what you need by your silence…speak…talk….listen….contribute…..

Ciao….Nonni