In 2012 when Mateo was 3 years old he was always singing, dancing and chatting! Now aged 9 Mateo loves acting and has lived in multiple countries. His mother, Alejandra Salvatore an architect, designer and the founder of www.severinakids.com says “Mateo surprises me all the time”.

Original words…Mateo aged 3, 2012

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a CAT…

Someone you admire? Agustina and Lisa, my cousins.

What is your big dream? Learn Kung Fu!

Are you scared of anything? I’m afraid of the darkness, because in my room by night my toys are looking at me.

Your favourite films and books? My favorite film is Kung Fu Panda and the book I like the most is Mon Cirque by Xavier Deneux.

Something you did recently that you really loved? I loved the birthday party of my friend Julieta when we all danced and played in the swimming pool together.

The best holidays you ever had? My holidays in London where I can play with my friend Pedro and all his cars.

A place that you would dream to visit? I want to go to a huge huge mountain.

Your favorite outfit or the piece you like the most from your wardrobe? A blue T-shirt with a guitar that says “Rock & Roll”.

The next item you would so dearly love to get? A big boat or a submarine!!

If you had a magic wand, what would you do with it right now? I don’t like magic wands…

Parent & Child interview revisited…Mateo aged 9, 2018

What do you feel when you read what you wrote 6 years ago? I feel happy but at the same time a little embarrassed.

Do you still live in the same town? Not even close! In 2013 we moved from Buenos Aires to Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia and last September we moved to Porto, Portugal.

Do you have new ideas about the type of profession you want to embrace, or the things you want to do as an adult? I want to be an actor and my goal is to play the role of Spiderman in a movie.

What are the books, films, events that made an impression on you lately? I really loved a new book that I discovered in my new school. It’s called Tom Gates and it’s like a diary. I’ve already read five volumes.

What is the most beautiful lesson you’ve learned from your experiences so far? That it doesn’t matter how far you are from your friends and family, this doesn’t stop you from having fun with them, play and talk with them.

What skills do you have that are special? Acting, drawing and playing video games of course…

What do you think would make a change in the world? To make less weapons and stop littering.

Alejandra

What are the main changes that happened in your life/ profession in the last 6 years? “Change” is a word that defines our family. In 2012 when you interviewed us we had just moved from Madrid to Buenos Aires but in 2014 we moved again to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where we lived for five years. Last September we moved to Porto to be able to grow my collection; producing and distributing from Europe again. Thanks to these adventures as a family, we have become are very versatile and experts in adapting to new challenges.

What is the most precious message that you have you drawn from educating your child? I feel that we are really privileged, growing together in very different environments and learning from our experiences. I’m proud that we are raising an open minded and a good child/person who has cultivated friendships in every single country where he has lived in.

What makes you happy about your family? That we are a team, no matters what.

Has your child evolved the way you thought he would? I used to say that I have never imagined living this life that we are living. In the same way, Mateo surprises me all the time. He is always ahead of what I could have ever imagined of a son of mine.

What is your recipe for happiness? Do what you love, dream with no limits.

Your formula to keep the family healthy? “Healthy” in our way of living, permanently “abroad”, means first of all stay together and in constant communication. Secondly, (but equally important) eating healthily and having a physical activity to helps our bodies and our minds.

A quote from an author/thinker/ artist that you particularly like? “Imagination is more important than knowledge” Albert Einstein

Original Parent & Child interview Alejandra & Mateo 

Parent & Child interview revisited