When my family moved from the United States to a small town in Southern Italy 12 years ago, I expected our children to grow up speaking another language and experiencing a different way of life. I didn't fully anticipate how much the move would challenge my ideas about parenting (in a good way).
I was born and raised in Cleveland and attended Ohio State University, so my instincts were influenced by life in and around large American cities. I was accustomed to parents closely supervising where their children went, organizing their schedules, and treating late evenings as adult territory.
