Vittoria, on Kinship. Sling Diaries, Vol VII.
The Sling Diaries, Volume VII. A photo-documentary chronicling the art of baby wearing in the lives of families around the world. Over the course of six months, Sling Diarists will create their own Sling Diary though a series of diary entries interpreting a unique theme given to them each month.
Meet all of our Sling Diarists here.
ON KINSHIP
Establishing our own family, our own traditions, our own way of parenting, disciplining, and raising a little girl hasn’t come without its challenges. My family is your quintessential Italian bunch. Loud, sarcastic, endless teasing, lots of food, good wine, and of course, there is always a seat at the table for anyone who wishes to join. And believe it or not, we all enjoy each other’s company.
When my husband accepted a job that would move us an hour away, we were faced with a change that would affect the dynamic of our extended and immediate family because we’ve never been more than a 15 minute drive. I have lived in San Diego my entire life, so although an hour is not far, an hour has changed my familiar grocery stores, coffee shops, and parks. It’s removed my ability to drop Brighton off at my parents’ at a moment’s notice so I can run errands or get all the girlfriends together for a mom’s night out.
I’ve been forced to redefine home (and family) as I’ve always known it. Home isn’t a zip code anymore. Home is family; kinship. Some of those people were given to us through birth and marriage, and some of them are our chosen blood. Home is Jon and Brighton. My little family unit of 3 now has the opportunity to create our own traditions, discover our own way of raising children, explore new neighborhoods and create a new meaning of family.
Now, I understand the saying “Home is where the heart is.” It’s so cheesy and cliche, but it’s truth. Home is where Brighton took her first steps. Home is where Brighton snuggles with her Nonna and sings the Itsy Bitsy Spider. Home is where Jon and I first met. Home is meandering through the streets of Florence or realizing I am more and more like my mom in so many ways. Home is looking at Brighton while she sleeps and wondering if she’ll be like her mom too. We recently spent a week in Hawaii with my parents and for that week, while we were together, that was home. Ultimately, home has become the feeling I have when I feel rest; That feeling when the make up is off, the tea in the mug is warm, and the blanket offers a cozy wrapping to enjoy a holiday movie by the fire. The feeling I have when I’m with my people, my kin.
We are taking the family traditions and values we’ve grown up with and building upon those to create new ones in our own family. Kinship is home. Kinship is where our roots have grown deep and where our wings are spread wide.
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