All my Italian friends out there will understand...

American kids: Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents.

Italian kids: Move out when they're 28, having saved enough money for a house, and are two weeks away from getting married....unless there's room in the basement for the newlyweds.

American kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings a Bundt cake, and you sip coffee and chat.

Italian kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings 3 days worth of food,begins to tidy up, dust, do the laundry, and rearrange the furniture.

American kids: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them,and it's usually only on special occasions.

Italian kids: Are not at all fazed when their dads show up, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00, and starts pruning the fruit trees. If there are no fruit trees, he'll plant some.

American kids: Always pay retail, and look in the Yellow Pages when they need to have something done.

Italian kids: Call their dad or uncle, and ask for another dad or uncle's phone number to get it done...cash deal. Know what I mean??

American kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get only cake and coffee. No more.

Italian kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get antipasto,wine,a pasta dish, a choice of two meats, salad, bread, a cannoli, fruit,espresso and a few after dinner drinks.

American kids: Will greet you with 'Hello' or 'Hi'.

Italian kids: Will give you a big hug, a kiss on your cheek, and a pat on your back.

American kids: Have never seen you cry.

Italian kids: Cry with you.

American kids: Borrow your stuff for a few days and then return it.

Italian kids: Keep your stuff so long, they forget it's yours.

American kids: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.

Italian kids: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.

American kids: Know few things about you.

Italian kids: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

American kids: Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on soft mushy white bread.

Italian kids: Eat Genoa Salami and Provolone sandwiches on crusty Italian bread.

American kids: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.

Italian kids: Will kick the whole crowd's ass who left you behind.

American kids: Are for awhile.

Italian kids: Are for life.

American kids: Like Rod Stewart and Steve Tyrell.

Italian kids: Worship Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra

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