| Italian teacher takes time off to adjust to her new role as mother | | Print | |
| Written by Lauren Quirarte | |
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First year Italian teacher Chiara Pelagatti welcomed a new addition to her family on April 19. Lorenzo was born with bright blue eyes and peach fuzz hair at 5:33 p.m. weighing 7lb and 13oz.
Although Lorenzo’s due date was April 22 he decided to arrive two days earlier. “Everything was wonderful,” Pelagatti said. “The first few weeks were hard but he is the best experience a person can have in life.” According to Pelagatti, Lorenzo is very quiet and doesn’t cry very much. Pelagatti found out about her pregnancy one week before school was about to start. “Of course (the timing) was not so good,” she said. “But I wanted to teach and end the school year early.” Pelagatti’s parents came from Italy on April 21 to visit their grandson. “They have helped a lot,” Pelagatti said. “They stayed until May 21.” This summer the Pelagatti family plans to stay in their family’s vacation house in Barbiano, Italy. “It is in a small village in the country,” she said. “All my family will be there and can visit Lorenzo.” Even though Pelagatti is far away from her Italian home she said she feels comfortable in the U.S. “Italy and America are not so different,” she said. “America has many resources and services — especially for my pregnancy.” Pregnant women in Italy usually stop working two months before their due date. “You have to ask permission from your doctor (to work),” she said. “And if they say you’re ok they will write a note.” Maternity leave in Italy lasts six months. “It’s a little different for everyone in America,” she said. “For me I’m lucky because I get the summer off.” Pelagatti will be looking for a nanny this fall. “I plan to have a nanny who works all the time,” she said. “But I can have a babysitter maybe from Lowell who can help for a night.” Pelagatti speaks Italian and English to Lorenzo. “Finally I can have (someone) to teach me better English,” she said. Pelagatti’s family plants a young tree at the family house for every new baby. “We planted an apple tree for Lorenzo,” she said. Pelagatti, her husband Stefano Zanella, and Lorenzo surprised students with a visit on May 23 at Kermesse. “I was excited to meet her husband,” sophomore Tiffany Burnoski said. “And to see her new baby after she’s been gone for two months.” Pelagatti hopes to return to Lowell in fall 2008. “Hopefully next semester I can come back,” she said. |
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to listen.
