The Romanelli family opened their home and revealed their education system to the State of Israel. The parents who advocate a playful approach, qualified for the semi-finals of the “Great Parental Test” (the competition continues tonight, after the news, Keshet 12) presented to the various couples and the spectators a colorful, happy and positive approach to education, and especially to life.
During the various challenges we got to know them and the charming interaction that characterizes them and emphasizes that although parenting is a serious business for all intents and purposes, it is a clear game with a purpose that they do with joy and believe that when we are playful – there are no mistakes but only more learning. So we jumped at the chance and peeked into the home nest of the Romanelli family, where we heard about their daily routine, the division of roles at home – and one couch that says it all.
Galit is a doctoral student in gender and a personal trainer, Asael is a doctor, social worker and couple therapist. Together the two hold couple meetings and run a business whose purpose is to help couples remarry. “Relationship artists”, as Galit defines it.
They are raising their children, Tzach, Laila, and their dog, Queen, in a five-room apartment measuring 130 square meters. The colorful apartment is not only a place to lay your head, but also a workplace for the two. “The clinics inside the house,” says Galit and elaborates, “is the most fun . Our approach is expressed in the fact that we are honest and open, so we cannot expect our children or the people who come to us to reveal themselves if we are not ready to reveal ourselves.” “We show the behind the scenes; Come home and see Tzach playing Xbox, the kids eating junk food. We are human, and in the human experience there is both – and we try to exemplify this,” adds Asael.
Who is responsible for order at home? “I am,” Galit answers and Asahel adds humorously: “she said and rolled her eyes.”
How would you describe the house? “Pleasant, neat and nice,” Galit says, “I try to keep it tidy in the public space without too many things, but touching is allowed, it’s not clean to the point where you’re afraid to get it dirty. You eat snacks on the sofa, there are ketchup stains on it. As for the rooms, each And one is responsible for their room, the children’s room is their kingdom, their private space and they can keep it more orderly – or less so. But when I feel it’s too much, for example in Laila’s room, I try to help her sort things out.” “We try to make the house accessible, so there are visible guitars, a visible piano, you can touch it – it’s not a museum,” adds Asael.
Do you have a musical affinity? “Ashael plays and we all like to turn on music and dance in the living room – or in the kitchen, it’s also part of the playfulness,” says Galit and Ashael clarifies: “Movement is one of the principles of our approach.”
What was the guideline in designing the house? “Let it be cozy and inviting. Our kitchen is blue, it’s not black or white, but all the colors of the rainbow. We also have a lot of books at home, all arranged in front of the colors of the rainbow – it adds color and it’s really pleasant to look at it, it’s therapeutic,” Galit says, ” Most of our art comes from the children.” “Celebrate their creativity,” adds Asael.
What is special: “When we moved in I hung twinkle lights all over the balcony, we wanted to wrap the house in something that was playful, a little dreamy. The world is hard enough as it is and we want our house to be like a playground for our children – for them to feel comfortable.”
How did you plan the children’s rooms? “We try to be in the here and now, it changes before their needs, desires and tastes,” says Galit, “also in our approach we strongly believe in change, mental flexibility, curiosity and growth – they are the experts in themselves, we do not pretend to know them better than they know the themselves,” adds Asael.
And what about storage spaces? “Ashael is a second generation of hoarders, I believe that there is no need to hoard,” says Galit, and Asahel quickly adds: “I grew up in a house where there is a picture on every wall, everything is full and crowded, so thanks to Galit, we let go. There is not a single box under our bed, it’s strange to me because It’s a classic storage space.”
What is the messiest room in the house? “Lila’s, what a waste of time,” Galit says humorously.
Do the children take part in the chores? “It’s liquid. There was a time when Tsach would water the pots, now Lila waters them. They collect bottles, that’s their thing, for that they get pocket money.”
