This list was made by Dina Leigerman -an American whose family emigrated from Russia to the United States 23 years ago. By her own admission, she grew up, torn between the desire to become a full-fledged American and the desire to preserve her cultural heritage. As a result, she married an American, and they had a multicultural family: Dina does with her children everything that our mothers did. And he believes that every American should try to do the same thing. We decided. Because the look at our traditions of upbringing from the outside is really very funny.
1. Love of Fresh Air
Babies need to go outside, period.If you have ever seen a stroller parked under a tree outside your home, the parents are most likely Russian. Russians believe that fresh air is good for children's health and that long walks strengthen the immune system. That is why they try to spend as much time outside with their children as humanly possible. And only a few have abandoned the theory of the benefits of fresh air. In winter, they wrap up their babies like cabbage and walk for hours. In summer, they put them in the shade. Russians also believe that it is good to sleep in the fresh air. That is why they put the baby in a stroller and put it on the balcony. Russians believe that fresh air is good for the soul and for sleep.
2. Soup - every day
Soups are the main dish in Russian cuisine.The food is, firstly, filling, and secondly, it allows you to squeeze vegetables into any picky eater. In addition, chicken noodle soup, according to legend, cures all known diseases. I often feel guilty because I do not cook soups as often as I would like. If my grandmother knew how rarely my children eat soup, I would be excommunicated from the family tree.
3. Family - first of all
For Russians, family is the most important thingexist in this world. Our lives are full of family birthdays, barbecues and other celebrations. It is normal to spend every weekend celebrating the birth of another nephew or the name day 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 close-knit. Russians do not have the concept of rivalry between brothers and sisters. We are always told that brothers and sisters are the closest people we have and we should take care of each other.
4. Russians believe in the importance of education
The second value after family.By the time a child reaches five years of age, he or she already attends three different clubs. In addition to school, children play music, play sports, take additional classes in mathematics or foreign languages. We don’t really have much of a choice – to get a higher education or not. A diploma is a must-have.
5. They lead children to theaters and museums
Children's performances and even theaters are the foundationRussian culture. My grandmother took us to performances or museums as often as she could. Russians believe that a love of art and literature are essential features of an educated person. Children can easily endure two-hour performances. And museums host all sorts of educational events. Russia is historically so rich in brilliant writers, poets, artists, and musicians that Russian children are forced to study the humanities literally from birth.
6. Russians instill in children respect for teachers
Since Russians value education so highly, thenRespect for the teacher is a logical consequence. Children know that the teacher must be obeyed without any questions. In general, the figure of the class teacher is an authority. Moreover, in case of disagreement, parents are more likely to take the teacher's side than the child's. This is because Russian parents understand how hard teaching children is.
7. They do not believe in the children's menu
An idea that is completely alien to mostRussian parents. Children, as a rule, eat the same as adults, without any adaptations. In addition, Russians love and know how to cook, so they offer children a wide variety of food, starting from an early age. Russian parents do not understand how it is possible to feed children only nuggets and fried cheese. To be honest, they consider it blasphemy.
8. They teach the elders to take care of the younger ones
First a nanny, then a doll.A disgusting expression, but what can you do: it often happens that way. Children in Russian families are taught to cook, wash dishes and the floor, operate a washing machine - by the age of ten they already know how to do all this perfectly. And when you have helpers, the whole household runs like clockwork. Well, since Russian children are quite responsible people, parents trust them with caring for the younger ones. If a child is able to cope with his own household responsibilities, then babysitting the younger ones is even more so.
9. Russians do not believe in personal space
One of my favorite moments in the movie"Spanish English" is when Cristina, the daughter, tells her mother that she needs some personal space, and her mother replies, "There is no space 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 such closeness can sometimes be suffocating, but on the other hand, it helps parents better understand and - let's face it - control their children.
10. Grandparents are very important people
I grew up spending my weekends, and often weekdays,also, with grandparents. Sometimes we even lived with them. Russian families believe in the importance of intergenerational connections, so it is very important for us that our children communicate with our parents. Grandparents are sometimes considered a second set of parents. Who, however, tend to spoil children.