How would We be Growing Up Italian in America If It Were Not For Ellis Island?
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No one ever disrespected your grandfather or grandmother. These were family members who were senior. You did what you were told. If you were a woman, you were decidedly the homemaker so it was important to know how to cook, clean and raise children and that part in parcel was part of growing up as an Italian. As a child you kept your opinions to yourself until you were an adult, and, sometimes that was at thirteen or fourteen years old when marriages were arranged. Some women married and started families as it was tradition. My family members were old Italian. They were steeped in tradition. However the old ways were steadfastly becoming more modern or Americanized, and food played an important part in that change. Slowly the old ways began to give to new. My grandmother, the "thoroughly modern Millie" traveled across the United States and to Italy. My mother and father, having come from successful working class people, enjoyed entertaining, played golf and were volunteers within their community. Now as second generation American-Italian woman with many more responsibilites than I ever thought I would have, I am torn between the old times of growing up, where all my cares and needs were taken care of by my parents to now being a parent taking care of parents. I enjoy the fruits of my labor yet I am divided. Do I stick with the old ways of growing up Italian? Do I let my passion for life and cooking take on the new, or should I take the old and meld it with the new...change is difficult, but as a working mother my focus was not so much change as it was to do what it takes to succeed. What do you think?
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