In Milano/ a Milano

Did you know time passes differently in Italy, then in The Netherlands? It goes much faster here!
Therefore: time for an update.

At arrival in Milano I was welcomed with so much enthusiasm! They've cleared out one of the rooms for me and they gave me a bathroom all to myself! What a luxury! The nonno (grandfather) from fathers' side of the family came by for dinner and brought cake and bubbles! The next day I met the nonna (grandmother) from mothers' side of the family.
The family exists of a mother, father, one son (oldest child) and two daughters. So it's pretty much a full house. Definitely for someone who's always been an only child. In this family I'm the au pair. Usually I think this would mean taking care of the children, bringing them to school, picking them up, maybe some light household chores, cooking perhaps, grocery shopping... Here this is not the case.
At first it looked more like a holiday. Offcourse I woke up with the rest of family, walked with the mum and the children to school, and afterwards we went into town, had some coffee, do some sightseeing. Only to join the mum again in picking the children up, that is, if dad or nonna hadn't done so allready.
At first I almost secretly did some chores, like folding the laundry. Now, after a week, the mum is beginning to let go a little. Sometimes she lets me clean the table, empty the dishwasher, etc. With this change I'm beginning to feel more at home!

The son remembered me very well from the summer holidays and was very glad to see me. The oldest daughter too, and she tries to help me with Italian. In exchange I help her with piano practice and her English. The youngest daughter however is a whole different story. She is very attached to her mother and doesn't really like me dressing her, doing her hair (mind you, she doesn't like that with anyone), she doesn't want to hold my hand when walking down the streets. This monday we decided I would just pick her up without the mum, so she wouldn't have a choice. This proved very effective. She didn't make a fuss whatsoever.
This evening we had the greatest fun, she would pretend-play the piano, I would dance to her music and the oldest daughter announced our show.

The mum and I are enjoying ourselves, in the morning we still go out for coffee, go to the gym, or visit some things downtown. On one of these visits I made some pictures of the park in all it autumn splendor.