Ellen Boneparth

Nona: a Different Kind of Motherhood Ellen Boneparth

Even though Ellen Boneparth had made no place in her life for children, she became in her fifties a different kind of mother-a Nona, a godmother to a Greek young woman. For close to five years, she willingly shared herself and her life with Katerina. Together they learned about American college life, travel, relationships, living in foreign cultures, but mostly they learned about themselves and each other. As they traveled back and forth from California to Greece, they discovered that for a parent and child, growing up means growing apart. This story is not only about a godmother and goddaughter. It's about families, friends and teachers who helped Katerina build a home away from home. It's about living on Greek islands, traveling in Europe and Asia, and launching a career after college. It's about risk-taking and comfort-giving, openness and privacy. Most of all, it's about mothers and daughters finding their way to an honest and loving relationship.