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{The Ordinary Moments} #29 - City Kids

1/10/2015

14 Comments

 
Had you asked me ten years ago where I thought I'd be raising my children, I'd have answered in a beat: "the rambling countryside". In a house with a big garden as far away from any city as possible. No pollution, no traffic jams, no dog poo on the pavement. Only cow poo in the fields. 

Life had other ideas, however, and we are undeniably City Kids. In what feels to me like the most city-ish of places: Milan. With its frequently dangerous levels of air pollution, insane traffic and almost complete lack of green spaces. Where 99% of the population live in small flats without gardens, many kids have unexplained eye and respiratory problems, and it's always just a bit smelly.

Can you tell I feel guilty about bringing the Bean up here? But this is our life, one that we chose. Plus I have to remind myself that he doesn't really care. He doesn't see things the way I do.

I see an expanse of forbidding concrete, he sees an assault course for his trolley.
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I see sad, sparse tufts of green in far too much brown. He sees a blade of grass, a fountain, and thinks "I'll wash one of those!". 
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I see walls covered in dog wee, he sees an opportunity for a giggle with Daddy.
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I see roads and roaring traffic right alongside the park, but he only focuses on the leaves that need to be 'mown'.
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I see how nothing escapes the dirt and the graffiti, I see the shabbiness and grim-faced neglect of it all. 
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He just makes a beeline for the climbing frame.
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So this is our ordinary life as City Kids: adventures in an urban jungle, fun found in unlikely places, a toddler who just wants to run around and point out the trams. And a mummy who does, in spite of herself, have a blast kicking leaves alongside him. 
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14 Comments
Donna link
1/10/2015 03:00:44 pm

I love this post. Your urban jungle is so well described and photographed, I can picture it so clearly and it is as much a playground to your son as the countryside would be. Kids don't care, as long as they are outdoors and free they have the time of their lives. It's nice to see a rare photo of you too :) x

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/20/2015 08:09:52 am

Ah yes, the photo! We bought ourselves a new DSLR for Christmas, and now suddenly I find I'm often in front of the lens rather than behind it. It's a bit weird! x

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Alexandra @dontcallmestepmummy link
1/11/2015 07:28:12 am

These photos are brilliant. Like you said it may not have been your first choice 10 years ago, but your gorgeous boy knows no different and to him it is all an adventure. You both share it with him so brilliantly, what more do children need? Lovely post. #ordinarymoments

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/20/2015 08:11:48 am

Thank you for your lovely comment. I think your right, as long as there is adventure as well as mum and dad to share it with him, our boy is happy enough. It's always reassuring to figure that out though!

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Mary link
1/11/2015 02:00:07 pm

Love this post and your life sounds dreamy and adventurous :)

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/20/2015 08:12:51 am

Definitely adventurous, though I'm not sure about dreamy! Like any place, Milan has its charms and its ugly bits ;-)

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Natalie link
1/12/2015 09:50:50 am

I love the post, reflection of the differences in childhood to adulthood and parenthood, but i think we all need to be more and think more like kids ;) x

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/20/2015 08:13:41 am

Absolutely! Looking back at these photos made me realise just how important that is.

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Not A Frumpy Mum link
1/12/2015 01:36:21 pm

Such a lovely post, kids really do see the world in a different way to us grown-ups and I love how they see the fun elements first. x

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/20/2015 08:14:49 am

They really do always see the fun first - sometimes in totally unexpected ways and places!

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carie link
1/13/2015 04:26:29 pm

It's funny how life pans out isn't it - and yet for all the down sides of living in the city I suspect there are just as many things you love or you wouldn't do it - and it looks like your little man is having a blast in his urban jungle!

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/20/2015 08:16:30 am

You're right of course - we made a conscious decision to stay here even after the Bean was born and I know there are many things I'll miss once we do eventually move on. Realising that as well as not taking our jungle for granted has been quite the lesson lately!

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Katie @mummydaddyme link
1/17/2015 06:06:59 pm

What gorgeous photos Eline, I love them all. It is funny how life pans out, I certainly didn't think i would be where we are now either. It sounds like he is having a blast living in the city though! x

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/20/2015 08:18:09 am

Thank you Katie, that's a huge compliment coming from you!
Yes, life does have a funny way of taking you to unexpected places, but I like to think it's possible to find positives in any situation. Or rather, the Bean helps me think so! x

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