10 things foreign mothers dream of learning from Russian mothers

Babies have to walk, period. If you are not in Russia and you see a stroller parked under a tree near your house, your parents are most likely Russian. The Russians believe that fresh air is good for children’s health and that long walks strengthen the immune system. Therefore, they try to be on the street with their children for as long as humanly possible. And only a few have abandoned the theory of the benefits of fresh air.

In winter, they wrap babies like cabbage and walk for hours. In the summer they lay in the shade. Russians also believe that it is good to sleep in the fresh air. Therefore, they put the child in the stroller and put it on the balcony. This is how the advice of Dr. Komarovsky is marching around the world. American women in this matter are so strict with themselves. If they don’t want to go out, they don’t go out. And the child, accordingly, too.

And again the quote: “For Russians, family is the most important thing in the world. Our life is full of family birthdays, kebabs and other holidays. It’s okay to spend every weekend celebrating the birth of another nephew or the birthday of a distant relative.

From the moment we are born, we are taught that family is the only thing that matters in this world. That is why we are so united. Russians have no concept of sibling rivalry. We are always told that brothers and sisters are the closest people we have and we must take care of each other. ” And that’s great, we think.

“Children’s performances and even theaters are the foundation of Russian culture. My grandmother took us to shows or museums as often as she could.

Russians believe that a love of art and literature is an integral part of an educated person. Children endure two-hour performances quite calmly. And in museums all sorts of educational events are held. Russia is historically so rich in genius writers, poets, artists and musicians that Russian children are forced to study the humanities literally from birth, ”writes Dina. Yes, and we do not see anything wrong with teaching a child to read early, instilling a taste for good music, or at least introducing him to it. With a history like ours, it would be a crime to remain ignorant.

Here Dina has memories from our common Soviet past. “Since the Russians value education so highly, respect for the teacher is a logical consequence. Children know that teachers need to be obeyed without question. In general, the figure of the homeroom teacher is an authority. Moreover, in case of disagreement, the parents are likely to take the side of the teacher, not the child. This is because Russian parents understand how hard teaching children is, ”says Dina.

Now, unfortunately, the situation has changed. Mutual respect has decreased: students behave as if everyone around them owes them, and teachers allow themselves to insult children and even organize bullying.

And again about food. In the west, going to a restaurant for lunch is a normal practice, not a festive outing. And almost everywhere there is a children’s menu. “An idea completely alien to most Russian parents. Children tend to eat the same food as adults, without any adaptations. In addition, Russians love and know how to cook, therefore they offer children a wide variety of food, starting from an early age. Russian parents do not understand how you can feed your children only nuggets and fried cheese. To be honest, they consider it blasphemy, ”writes Dina.

No, of course, Russian parents are not so frostbitten as to give their child mushrooms at two years old or nuts a year. But about nuggets and macaroni and cheese, Dean is right one hundred percent.

First the nanny, then the lyalka. Disgusting expression, but what to do: it often happens. “Children in Russian families are taught to cook, wash the dishes and the floor, and operate the washing machine – by the age of ten they are already perfectly able to do this. And when you have helpers, the whole household works like clockwork. Well, since Russian children are quite responsible people, parents also trust them to take care of the younger ones. If the child is able to cope with his household duties, then nursing the younger – and even more so ”.

Everything is correct. Unless, of course, this national trait is ruined by the trend of overprotection, when they try to protect the child from everything – that is, from all worries, troubles and problems in general, raising an infantile.

Dina writes: “One of my favorite moments in Spanish English is when Christina, my daughter, tells her mother that she needs some personal space, and her mother replies: ‘There is no place between us.’ This moment meant more to me than, perhaps, other moviegoers, because it is about Russians. We have no concept of personal space. Although from such closeness it is sometimes just right to suffocate, but, on the other hand, it helps parents to better understand and – why be honest – to control their children. “

Western politeness, when we knock on doors before entering the nursery, is relatively new. Our women have ceased to see their purpose only in motherhood and therefore have learned to perceive children as individuals, respecting their privacy.

“I grew up spending weekends, and often weekdays too, with my grandparents. Sometimes we even lived with them. Russian families believe in the importance of intergenerational communication, so it is very important for us that our children communicate with our parents. Grandparents are sometimes viewed as the second set of parents. Which, however, tend to spoil children, ”recalls Dina.

Scientists, by the way, say that children definitely need to communicate with older relatives. This will help them build the right attitude towards older people. But now, unfortunately, traditional Russian nepotism is faltering: either grandmothers do not want to babysit their grandchildren, or mothers do not trust kids to their parents or the husband’s parents.