"Supporting Families is the Most Important Investment" - Interview with Russian State Duma Deputy Speaker (Anna Kuznetsova)
"I am convinced that the interests of the family should be at the center of any government decisions"
2024 has been declared the Year of the Family in Russia. The Parliamentary Gazette asked famous politicians to talk about their family traditions and share their warmest and most vivid memories of their family and friends.
Our interlocutor today is Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, former children's ombudsman of Russia, mother of seven children: Anna Kuznetsova.
- Anna Yuryevna, what are your warmest and most vivid memories associated with your family?
- I want to say that when asking this question to a mother of seven children, you run the risk of not having time to ask other questions, since there is a long story ahead ( laughs ) . . . Of course, first of all, warm and bright feelings are associated with the birth of children, with their first steps, first words, and with their first successes in kindergarten, school, and university...
- What traditions do you have in your large family?
- Our traditions grew out of our day-to-day lives. For example, we have a “Happy Birthday!” garland. We hang it up in August, and we don’t take it down until January, because our birthday marathon begins on September 2 with Timosha’s birthday and continues with Lyovochka’s birthday in October, Mashenka’s in November, and further down the list. When guests come visit us and see a congratulatory garland, they ask: whose birthday is it? We answer: it’s always someone’s birthday!
Balloons are an integral part of the birthday person's morning. For each child they are different depending on their character and hobbies. There are also balloons for mothers which are chosen by the children. And of course a birthday cake — here we won’t look original. But I will tell you that gathering our entire family around the table to blow out the candles for another birthday is a task that requires a special approach. Therefore, sometimes we do this at night, and sometimes early in the morning. The main thing is to capture the moment when everyone is together!
On New Year's Day we write letters to Santa Claus, which disappear on New Year's Eve, and in the morning we find a letter in response under the tree, wet with snow. In the letter he advises everyone how to behave, how to become better!
There is another tradition, for older children — this is the “revelation” candle. We started this tradition when some of the older children began to face difficult situations in adolescence: misunderstanding, searching for themselves... When the kids go to bed, we discuss problems and joyful events, relationships with friends by candlelight... By the way, I recommend it, it helps us.
- What are your wishes for the Year of the Family?
- I am convinced that the interests of the family should be at the center of any government decisions, what is convenient for it, what is important for development, what is necessary for children to be born and grow up. This is not only about social departments. The interests of the family should be a priority in the work of all government departments without exception, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Transport, and so on.
It is also important not to forget about the small tasks while pursuing the big ones... Or rather, everything is more complicated: in family policy there are no big or small tasks, there are no unimportant ones. An inconvenient sidewalk that a mother with a stroller cannot walk on. The clinic was renovated, but there was nowhere to put the stroller. There is a sports center, but it is not accessible for a family with a child with a disability...
And most importantly, in my opinion, it’s time to stop considering any programs to protect or support families as if they were merely some kind of permanently subsidized component of the budget. The family is an institution with the highest efficiency ratio; it is our most important investment in the future of the country and the happiness of every person! Whatever it is, the main value of all of us is family! Who will need cars and roads if there is no children's laughter in people’s yards?
Source: pnp.ru (Russian)
So beautiful!
"Who will need cars and roads if there is no children's laughter in people’s yards?"
That is the essence of everything right there. I have four children, now all adult, and two with families of their own. If I was to go back and do it all again, then, absolutely, and no hesitation. Children are the most wonderful gift from God. Perhaps, if I were to make a change, there would be 6 or 8 instead of just 4.