Vanessa & Marcelo

In 2011 Marcelo, aged 4 was already well travelled. Born in New York he moved to London at the age of 1. He spoke English with his friends, baby language with his 15 month sister, Turkish with his father, and French with his mother. Now at 12 years old family still means everything to Marcelo. Mother and travel blogger Vanessa Boz, www.bozaround.com feels she “has learnt so much about myself through his eyes”

Original words…Marcelo aged 4, 2011

What do you want to be when you grow up? I would like to be an astronaut.

What is your favourite famous person? (after a long pause…) Father Christmas, I like him because he brings lots of presents to me even the things that I don’t ask for, he still brings them.

Your favourite book? Les dinosaurs.

Your favourite film? How to Train your Dragon.

Your favourite place for holidays? Aix en Provence (South of France).

A place that you would dream to visit? Africa.

Who chooses your clothes in the morning? Me and my mummy.

What is your favorite colour? Red and light blue.

Your favorite brand? Adidas and my red shoes.

What is the piece your like the most from your wardrobe? My super hero pyjamas (from Adri – bought on madamelamarchande).

The next item you would like to get? A sponge bob square pants item.

Parent & Child interview revisited…Marcelo aged 12, 2018

What do you feel when you read what you wrote 7 years ago? It’s changed a lot I guess, but it makes me feel very happy to read it.It brings back good memories, like my favorite book or the movie I mention. I remember them.

Do you still live in the same town? Yes, but I have moved from Marylebone to Primrose Hill in the North of London.

Do you have new ideas about the type of profession you want to embrace, or the things you want to do as an adult? No, I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.

What are the books, films, events that made an impression on you lately? The movie First Man, I never realised how hard it was for them to get a man on the Moon. I thought they managed the first time but it turns out a lot of people died trying. Also, I once read a book about mountaineers climbing a peak in South America that no-one had ever set foot on, which surprised me because I thought that in such modern times, humans had already been everywhere.

What is a beautiful lesson you’ve learned from your experiences so far? Friends are not forever, family is. I have had many friends come and go but my family will always be my family.

What skills do you have that are special? I know a few languages and I reached black belt which is the highest level in taekwondo. I’ve played football for a long time and I am sort of good at it.

What do you think would make a change in the world? If we found a way to recycle all plastic, it would really benefit the world we live in. I feel if we don’t act now, in the future it might become too late to fix the damage we have done.

Vanessa 2018

What are the main changes that happened in your life/ profession in the last 7 years? I have gone freelance, travel writing and consulting, to suit my life raising my 3 children.

What is the most precious message that you have drawn from educating your child? He teaches me as much (more!) as I teach him. I have learnt so much about myself through his eyes.

What makes you happy about your family? Their smiles, when they are confident about themselves. The little things. When they trust their own judgement and feelings.

Has your child evolved the way you thought she would? Yes, more or less. Marcelo is a young teenager now but he still has a very gentle smile and so much kindness and sensitivity in him. He has always been like this and it makes me so happy.

What is your recipe for happiness? I wish I had one to share! I would pull it out when the going gets tough! I try to take trips one on one with each of my children, it’s not possible often but when it happens it’s magic. Marcelo and I went on a surfing trip to Chile together for a week, it was the most beautiful binding time we had together.

Your formula to keep the family healthy? A homemade green juice before going to school..and I squeeze in some fish oil without them noticing sometimes. But please don’t tell the children or they won’t drink it anymore!

I often tell one by Dr Seuss to Marcelo and my two other children:

Today you are you
This is truer than true
There is no-one alive
Who is youer than you

Theodor Seuss Geisel

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Read the original 2011 Parent & Child interview