Bambini

Italian children are impeccably dressed and impeccably kept. Their outfits are stylish, the colors are sophisticated, never babyish. This morning in the piazza I saw a blond toddler with butter cream yellow trousers, and a navy/blindingly white wide striped shirt of the type a yachter wears, collar up and jaunty, every bit ironed perfectly. I have never seen bed-head on any child, they are coiffed and groomed, never a dirty mouth, sticky hand or tear-stained cheek. No child is EVER permitted to play on the ground—the only part of their body permitted contact with the dirt is the bottom of their feet, neatly tucked into, what else, fine Italian leather shoes or something fashionably sporty. If a child tries to kneel or play where it is dirty, a loud reprimand is heard—“No! Sporco!!!” and they are pulled upright again. Consequently, though Italian children of any age play hard, I have yet to ever see one fall down.