Ciao e benvenuto a tutti! I hope you came to this blog hungry. Before you stop reading here because you anticipate this to be the billionth blog about food and drinks, hear me out. Today, we are talking about Italian grandparents and their legacy. And what does Nonna love to do most? To put it simply, she loves cooking for her grandchildren. Still, I am sure that some are still not interested in today’s talk. Really, who wants to hear about grandparents? What you must understand is that there is more to the story than that. Seeing Nonni (Italian grandparents) as old people is like reading the first chapter of a novel and believing you understand the whole book. Trust me, you will want to read all the chapters to get the whole scoop (of gelato).

What separates the classic Nonno and Nonna from the rest of the grandparents on Earth is their lasting impact on their families. As a member of an Italian immigrant family myself, let me assure you that the love of an Italian grandparent extends way beyond anything else. A key attribute that grounds their passion for family is resilience. After the second World War, Southern Italy was left in shambles. A solid meal for an entire family was a loaf of bread, and townspeople lived among their livestock. For our young Nonni, their lifestyle was painful, and as they grew up, they became determined to prevent the same from happening to their children. Many thus moved to America for its promise, while others were not fortunate enough to leave. Regardless of their circumstances, however, Italian grandparents all faced hardships beyond imagination. Yet they never complained. They never took a day off. And most importantly, they never quit.

With the values of faith and family, they instilled the importance of hard, honest work into their children’s minds and nurtured them beyond their best ability. A story that particularly resonates with me is one that my aunt told me. As a teen, she had a mall day planned with her friends, but she needed money. Consequently, my aunt proceeded to ask my grandfather for money, and after some coaxing, he gave her a few dollars. Little did she know, that was the last of his money, and he selflessly gave it to her. This encounter demonstrates the tenderness Italians have towards family, especially those of younger generations. It is evident that this love has lasting impacts, as well. Compared to other cultures, Italians are known to have strong family bonds, and this is thanks to Nonna’s extensive care. Yet Nonni have a tough side harder than the volcanic rock of Mount Etna. When it comes to their children’s and grandchildren’s success, Italians are sticklers of good practices and conduct. However, due to their strictness, Italian Americans often have better experiences than preceding generations. And this leads me to my last point: as Italian Americans, we must never forget what our grandparents did for us. Words cannot express the adversity that out Nonni faced, nor can it express the debt we owe them. So whether you are Italian or not, let this inspire you to work harder and give more than what you think you can. Someone down the line did just that to guide your destiny; don’t let that hard work go to waste! Grazie e ci vediamo presto!