Your Mom Friend: Giulia Lanaro

Mom to Achille and Tito and Visual Researcher on asking for help and finding space to free your mind.

THE BASICS:

Talk to us about where you’re from and what you do.

Hello :) I am Giulia and I come from the North of Italy, Bassano del Grappa. I’m a visual researcher and I am the mother of two incredible little humans.

What are your kid(s) names and ages?

Achille and Tito who are 11 years old and 6 years old. 

Do you have a favorite age so far? And why?

I really enjoyed the first years when they where little beans but I also love how the communication improve when they grow up, the connection becomes more interesting everyday. 

What do you love about raising kids where you live? Do you wish you were raising them somewhere else?

We live in a small town surrounded by nature that allows us to take good walks in the green, but at the same time we’re near cities like Venice and Milan where we usually go to see Museums or Art Exhibitions so, to me, it’s a good deal. 

Can you walk us through a typical day for you and your family? (the morning routine, drop off, work, etc.)

On a typical weekday, usually dad wakes up earlier and wakes up the kids. Then they go to school and I go to work (I am also a part time secretary) and then I meet them in the afternoon at my mother’s house. Grandparents are fundamental in our daily life! They help us a lot. Then we go back home or I bring the kids to a sport. In the evening, I prepare dinner and the kids have a shower. We usually eat at 7:30/8:00 pm, after we watch movies together and then the kids go to bed, Achille reads a book and daddy reads a story to Tito.

What’s the vibe post-bedtime? How do you end your day?

At the end of the day me and Luca, my partner, watch a movie on Netflix or we read a good book and we finally have the time to tell each other how was our day. 

What does YOU TIME look like?

I try to find space for me during the day, having a good walk in the hills near my home, to free my mind. I really need it! I feel like it’s fundamental for everyone to have a moment just for yourself. 

MOTHERHOOD:

Looking back to your early days of motherhood or postpartum, what do you remember most about it? What stuck?

Thinking back, I feel a bit melancholic! I miss the emotions of becoming a mother for the first time. I vividly remember the feeling of being a super-heroine when my midwife handed me newborn Achille. Obviously, it was not only happy times! Especially with the first born, I felt scared every time he was crying trying to understand why! With the second one, Tito, everything felt different, more relaxed, maybe because I was more prepared for it. I remember that I was holding him in my arms constantly because I knew that those days would have flown very fast! Just like with Achille…

What (if any) advice would you give yourself as a new mom?

Ask for help when you need it, you’re not alone! And then, live it as it comes, without too much pressure or too many expectations— you don’t have to be a perfect mum, but a happy one :) and your kids will feel your happiness too!

What do you enjoy the most about being a mom?

The unconditional love that you receive from the kids, they are the sweetest things that could happen in my life.

What would you say is your greatest challenge in motherhood?

I think that the greatest challenge in motherhood is to let your kids grow and become independent, which can be a big gratification too! 

Which values or lessons are most important to you to pass onto your kid(s)?

The most important values I want to pass onto my kids is tolerance, the respect for everyone who is different from them. I love to travel with them to different countries, I think this is very important to understand the differences between them/us and other cultures, and let them to understand it and appreciate it. 

COMMUNITY:

What does your support system look like? (ex: childcare, friendships, mother or mother figure, bodyworkers, mentors, healers, therapists, etc.)

My support system is my family, my parents and especially my sisters. Also my friends. 

How do you express love (to your children, partner, family, friends) and how do you like to receive it? (This can be the same as your love language)

I think the best way to express love to my family is in little things that must not miss in our daily life, like a kiss or a hug before going to school/work and to ask “how was your day?” at the end of the day. A smile or a caress when you don’t expect it. 

How has your relationship with your partner evolved throughout this journey thus far?

It's evolved everyday since our kids were born, every year is different from the past one with new experiences and adventures. He’s the best dad I could ever ask for, he’s always present and supporting. We have the same vision of what we want for our future and the future of the kids, I think this is fundamental. 

STYLE:

Did your style change when you became a mother and if so, how? 

My style has not changed a lot since I became a mum, the base of my personal style is the same. 

Where are you finding creative inspiration these days?

I love to get inspired from movies, music muses or from my collection of magazines/books. I try to not conform myself with the rest of the people but most important to me is that this happens in a genuine way. I like fashion but I try not to be fashion, I don’t know if this makes sense :) to me is important to transmit this feeling to my kids, to be yourself always.

Favorite shops? For yourself and your kids?

I love to buy second hand stuff because of their uniqueness, for my kids too!

Best vacation spots with the family? Where’d you go, what’d you do, where’d you stay? Anywhere you’d like to go?

The best place I’ve been with my family is Provence in France, but a summer vacation I’ll never forget was in Noto, Sicily, two years ago. I can’t wait to see Costa Brava this summer. 

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS:

Favorite last purchase for yourself?

A matching skirt and top set by Maurizio Pecoraro, (second hand obviously), who is a designer that I discovered while browsing my old magazines :) I’m pretty proud of it. 

And for your kids?

A pair of Prada America’s Cup Sneakers (they are so cute in size 31 ), second hand too.

Favorite local restaurant?

Our favorite local restaurant is Ottone, I used to go there since I was a kid, it’s a classic restaurant, but cool, serving traditional food. 

Ideal date night?

The ideal date night will forever be Cicchetti and spritz around Venice on a spring evening.

Last book you read?

"Daily Rituals, Women at Work" by Mason Currey, very fascinating.

Desert Island Products you can’t live without (personal and baby)?

I would need papers and pen for my kids (they love to draw), a romantic novel, and sun cream 50+ for the whole family!

Define in one word your expectation of motherhood:

Responsibility

Define in one word your reality of motherhood:

Improvement

Something you make your kid that they will actually eat?

Pizza or risotto with tomato sauce are foods that when I make I know my kids will love every time.

You can find and follow Giulia on Instagram here !