Family Fridays #20 Varya
Today, Varya is joining us for our 20th Family Friday! She is the voice behind The Creative World Of Varya. She talks about parenting, pregnancy, creativity, and more! Be sure to check her out
Tell me a little about yourself.
We are a family of 5: me, my husband, and 3 kids - two girls and a boy. We are living in the South of China. Both of us are English teachers, though I am currently not working full time and staying home taking care of the kids. We are quite musical. We like creating with kids. My husband has an amazing imagination and he makes up stories for our children.
Where did you and your spouse grow up?
I grew up in Russia and Sam grew up in Tanzania.
What was it that first attracted you to your spouse?
Honestly, I don't remember much from the first time we met. Except, he played guitar and stepped on my feet. Ha ha. But his sense of humour and ability to consult about everything in order to reach decisions and solve misunderstandings are two things that I really liked before we got married and appreciate especially now.
Do you and your spouse have similar personalities or very different?
We are similar in many ways. We are both extraverted. We are both musical. We don't hide our emotions and we speak our minds out. We like the same things. We share the same religion (we are Baha'is).
What makes your family unique from other families?
Hmm. I think every family is unique. I can't even begin to compare as it is simply not possible. We are all so diverse and special. I guess just the fact that we exist as a family makes us unique.
Does your family have any unique traditions?
Our family traditions pretty much revolve around family celebrations: birthdays, Nawruz (New Year), our anniversary. For example, every year I make a treasure hunt for kids for Ayyam-i-Ha - a holidays that Baha'is celebrate at the end of February. And we countdown to Nawruz.
Will you continue this tradition in your own family?
Yes, of course. We are still in a process of building our traditions. But once the children are grown up we hope the build their own family traditions while remembering ours.
What is one piece of advice you have to share with other families?
Family consutlations. Apply them to everything: from the type of tea you buy to which college your kids will go to. Consultations are a great way to strengthen the family, take a good look at the differences that prevent unity and solve all sort of situations. They also include all family members in the decision making process.