Belarusians awarded the Order of the Mother - about children, work and state support

“When there is strong support of the state, you feel confident” – spoke with Belarusians awarded the Order of the Mother

To assemble a portfolio for a first-grader, prepare breakfast, check lessons, listen to a hundred “why” and hug before going to bed – the profession of a mother requires the management acumen of a top manager, patience and boundless heart. It is not without reason that maternal labor in our country is equated with outstanding services to the Fatherland. A clear proof of this is the Order of the Mother. According to Presidential Decree No. 319, 239 Belarusians from all regions and Minsk recently received the award for the birth and upbringing of five or more children. Among them are a kindergarten cook, a nurse of a district hospital, a milkmaid from a small town, a teacher, an agronomist and an economist. Each has its own history, concerns and habitual rhythm of life, but they are all united in the desire to turn home into a place where the future of the country grows.

The Four Daughters Olga and Vasily Kolosei of Drogichin were named after the saints: Faith, Hope, Love and Sofia. Their names were chosen long before their birth, Peter and Paul. The couple started the family 11 years ago with modest luggage but big plans. Looking back, they admit that all desires came true: their own spacious house is filled with a stomp of small legs and a ringing laugh.

- Vasya and I grew up in large families and did not doubt for a second that ours would be the same. Ten years ago, Vera appeared, followed by her sisters. I always wanted a boy, and the heir Peter waited for his turn, and after him the second, the heroine immerses in the family chronicle.

The day for a mother of many children begins at six in the morning: wake up, feed and gather three to school, two to kindergarten. Paul, who recently turned one year old, remains at home. However, she does not notice the difficulties in this cycle and talks about everything with a smile. Reliable rear provides Vasily: he works as a shift operator at a textile enterprise, but manages to help his wife on the household, and children with lessons.

- So far, we do not overload children with household duties, but they stretch themselves. The older daughter is already a full-fledged assistant in the kitchen, especially loves to bake pies. From an early age, we join the faith: on Sundays, the whole family goes to the temple.

At first, the couple looked at both Minsk and Brest, but chose Drogichin. They bought a small house, and with the advent of the fourth child, they received a subsidy for the reconstruction of housing. That's how the second floor grew. Now there are more than 300 “squares” in the nest: each baby has his own room, there is a bright living room and a kitchen with a dining room, where households gather every evening for dinner and conversations. On a plot of 20 acres there was a place for beds, enclosures with rabbits, swings and a sandbox. Raising six is a big job, but the government's concern for families of this size relieves anxiety. Allowance for children up to three years, free meals for schoolchildren, financial assistance for preparing for the new academic year, discount on textbooks and a minimum fee for kindergarten. All conditions have been created for Belarusian women to take place both in motherhood and in the profession, the interlocutor is convinced:

- First, I graduated from the College of Communications in Brest, then entered the correspondence department of the Vitebsk branch of the Belarusian State Academy of Communications. Two daughters were born while studying. For more than 12 years I have been working as an operator at the Drogichinsky section of postal communication. Now on maternity leave, but the workplace for me is saved, so for the future is calm.

The family history of Natalia and Vitaly Pascrobka from the agro-town of Bluga, Pukhovichi district began at the school desk - the first love became the only one. Young people did not even think about a big city: after graduation they remained in their native lands to work in the agricultural branch of the Krasny Mai of the Minsk sparkling wine plant. He got behind the wheel of the tractor, she went to milkmaids. Soon, the farm allocated the couple rental housing, in which the voices of five children ring today.

- One by one there were sons Andrei, Daniel and Kirill, and I dreamed of a girl since childhood. My husband offered to try for the fourth time, and our Polinka was born, this year she went to school. Then I decided that I needed another assistant, and Mashenka appeared in the family. The name was invented by the older sister: she loves the cartoon about Masha and the bear, says the mother of many children. Of course, we did not give birth for the sake of awards or benefits, but when there is such strong support of the state, you feel confident.

The family capital of the wife Pascrobka was used for the reconstruction of Vitaly's parental house. Their own land is also solid: there live chickens, pigs, and rabbits, and the harvest from a large garden goes to the dining table. The duties of the spouse were divided in a business way: the mother is responsible for comfort in the house, and the father rules the farmstead. The baby is not far behind, my mother assures:

- We are all accustomed to discipline: it is not necessary to remind of dishes after dinner or that you need to wash the floor. Boys and animals will be fed, and the garden will be dug up, and the grass will be mowed. Take care of the sisters, help with lessons.

Hard work seems to have been inherited. Vitaly is an advanced harvester in the Pukhovichi district, annually takes the milestone of a thousand tons of ground grain. In his footsteps is going to go fifth grader Daniel: in the season he goes with his father in the field, in the winter helps to repair equipment. But ninth-grader Andrei in baking pies surpassed even his mother and seriously looks at the profession of confectioner.

The younger Masha is a little more than six months, the mother of many children is still on maternity leave. But he already knows that he will return to the farm as a cattle breeder.

- I've been working for almost 15 years and seen the farm change. Previously, heavy machines and milk cans were carried by hand, which were then taken away by tractor for processing. Today, the farm is clean, modern equipment is installed, everything is automated.