9 things you can learn from an Italian woman

Italian women are known for their passion, flair and love of life. Whether you are exploring the busy city life or the Italian mountains, there are always valuable lessons to be learned from their lifestyle. From enjoying your lunch to spoiling your son: the Italian woman knows exactly how to embrace life. These are 9 things you can learn from an Italian woman.

And that is what we learned from our colleague May, who celebrated the dove-ci-porta-il-vento principle (in other words: we’ll see where the wind takes us) with her beloved. She travelled from Bologna to Bari and from Firenze to Foggia, ultimately putting down her own roots in Puglia. And all the way down to the tip of the boot, she learned how to bring out her inner Italiana. Because Italians do it better, after all. In many ways. Read and learn.

1. Life is fun, all day long

While you walk around with your phone wedged between your shoulder and cheek, swearing under your breath and looking for your keys as you spill your smoothie over your white trousers, the Italian woman celebrates the moment. It starts in the morning. You walk to work if you can, even if it takes half an hour. Put on your flat Tod’s shoes, have a little coffee at the bar in your favourite café and carry on walking.

Caffè corretto

Better than cursing as you force your way through traffic in your car. Adapt. And oh yes, no one looks surprised if you order a caffè corretto, meaning a splash of liqueur in your coffee. Not even in the morning. Italians think it’s perfectly normal. Being drunk is a no-go, but no one minds a sip here and there. After work, you cook, eat and go for a walk at length. Maybe you even change clothes once more. You don’t just seize the day, you celebrate every hour.

2. What do you mean, putting the children to bed at 7:30 p.m.?

You’re only limiting yourself by doing that, aren’t you? You have to arrange a babysitter again, and that never works out. Just take the children with you. When they’re tired, they’ll surely fall asleep. Even next to that little fountain in the stroller. You can simply carry them to bed later.

3. Make lunch an elaborate affair

With all the trimmings, so you still have the rest of the day to digest it. In the evening, choose a little fish or some grilled vegetables and you’ll be completely fine. In any case, don’t think too much about your figure. Enjoy what you eat, but do so in moderation. Most Italian women May knows do go to the gym every working day.

4. Work full-time

Or be a full-time mother. They don’t do half-and-half in Italy. Here you’ll find the argument for why you shouldn’t feel guilty about working full-time. That is also why they have the highest percentage of women in senior positions (while we dangle at the bottom of the list, ai ai).

Send the children to Grandma

Now, it must be said that there is always a mother or mother-in-law (or babysitter) to look after the children, and that nurseries there are many times cheaper, so this is something they (yes, they) should also do something about in the Netherlands. Especially the nurseries. They are simply insanely and ridiculously expensive.

5. Take your time over food

Have you ever seen an Italian eating a sandwich while walking? Exactly. Sit down and enjoy it. With a little glass. Or a Crodino if you don’t want alcohol. But celebrate the moment.

6. It’s perfectly fine to be strict with those children sometimes

May sometimes finds the French a little too much with a smack on the left and a tap on the right, but the Italians have a little more authority than we do with our left-leaning, pedagogically responsible waffle. Sometimes a child is simply being annoying. And sometimes you’re allowed to be a little strict.

7. Wear sunglasses

You make a fashion statement either way, they help prevent wrinkles (because you don’t squint), you don’t have to do your eye makeup, and you can’t see your eye bags (because you were sitting by that little fountain in the square until late last night).

8. Enjoy a holiday in your own country

If farther away isn’t necessarily better, why not look closer to home? Rent a house in the next town over. You have the best sea, the tastiest food, the nicest clothes and, with the money you save on your tickets, you can buy another pair of sunglasses.

9. Feed your love

The Italian woman knows better than anyone that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. That’s why she always prepares a delicious meal for her beloved. And yes, sometimes she lets her mother cook and pretends she made it herself! It’s the thought that counts, right?

Anyway, viva Italia. If you have any additions, we’d love to hear them.

Read also:

• This is the secret ingredient for the most delicious tomato soup
• Here you can drink the cheapest coffee in all of Italy
• Let’s go: in Italy there is a fountain that pours free red wine

Source: Italiamo