Orthodox pediatricians about fasting. Folk traditions and child health: Advice from a pediatrician of an Orthodox priest

Today, more and more people are beginning to fast, or at least take a few moderate views of food while fasting. Can children also fast? Do you need it? If so, at what age and how to do it correctly? We decided to prepare material on this topic that may be useful to you.

We will not focus on the issues of religion and faith in our article, we will only touch upon the issues of nutrition. And a specialist from the Research Institute of Pediatrics will help us with this.

First, let's look at what a post is. Fasting is usually thought of as abstaining from eating and drinking. Different religions prohibit the intake of any food or certain types of it (most often meat, fish, dairy products, eggs) in different ways. But the main meaning of fasting is in educating the strength of the spirit, that is, fasting should contribute to the predominance of spiritual, lofty aspirations in the believer over sensual, bodily aspirations. Fasting often preceded major decisions and deeds, served as a means of repentance, an expression of sadness, as it helped to focus on any problem. "True fasting," teaches St. John Chrysostom, "is the removal from evil, the curbing of the tongue, the deposition of anger, the taming of lusts, the cessation of slander, lies and perjury." This is an opportunity to distract from the pleasures of your body, focus and think about more important and significant things - without all this, fasting becomes just a diet.

The strictest fasts are in Orthodoxy and Islam, but in Catholicism and Anglicanism, their number is insignificant. It is not known exactly when certain days of abstinence and fasting were established in Christianity. These days, like the prescriptions regulating the amount and types of food allowed, could vary in different eras. In accordance with the ancient Christian tradition, during the fasts it was allowed to eat only once a day, but over time, the custom added to this only meal a light evening meal, and then a small morning meal. In the West, abstinence from meat was mainly prescribed on fast days; in the East, the practice of xerophagy ("dry eating") meant a ban on eating meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, butter and wine.

V modern world there is a trend towards a gradual decrease in the number and softening of the severity of fasts and other forms of abstinence prescribed by the laws of the church. They began to take into account age, health, poverty, hard or long work and changing social conditions, as a result of which the church requires strict observance of the fast only from relatively narrow groups of people and frees others. Practice Orthodox posts incredibly developed - according to the traditional Church Julian calendar, in some years the number of fasting days reaches two hundred. They are timed to coincide with Orthodox holidays, which form an annual liturgical circle, and are divided into multi-day and one-day ones. In the days of fasting, abstinence should be comprehensive: from everyday entertainment and amusements, marital relations, alcohol consumption, violent manifestations of passions and negative emotions.

Catholic fasting has two types - abstaining from eating meat products ("abstinence", "abstinence") and limiting food intake during the day, when only one hearty meal is allowed and two lighter meals ("fasting"). Fasts among Protestants are performed when necessary - in case of illness of the believers themselves or their loved ones, in difficult life situations, when making important decisions in life, to resolve doubts, to strengthen in faith, before serious events in life, etc. Usually there are no fasts very long - most often no more than three days. Fasting in Islam is of 2 types: obligatory in the month of Ramadan (established by Sharia in 624, became one of the obligatory canons) and recommended. During the period of fasting, Muslims daily from sunrise to sunset refuse to eat, drink, smoke, etc. But the specificity of fasting in Islam is that it limits not the composition of food, but the time of its intake (as in early Christianity)

In the modern world, some peoples are reviving forgotten traditions, while in others, a child is brought up by a family and traditions are instilled in him from birth. Many parents whose children "eat poorly", without noticing it, overfeed them day after day. What happens then? Not just decreased appetite and poor digestibility of food. The entire huge supply of internal bodily forces is spent not on resistance to diseases and the effects of external unfavorable factors, but on the breakdown of an excessive amount of food introduced into the stomach. Over time, the child's body does not have time to remove excess and self-poisoning occurs. It is bad when they indulge the whims of a child, and give him only what he loves. It is also harmful to teach children to eat too sweet, tasty and delicious food: it should be nutritious, but simple. Finally, as has been said many times, you cannot force a child to eat without feeling hungry. That's right, if the child is accustomed to sitting at the table with the rest of the family.

The meaning of fasting is that it educates the will of the child: it teaches him to conquer bad desires and bad habits. From the first years, the child is warned about the dangers: "You must not take off your hat in the sun!", "You must not pet a cat!" At first, these prohibitions are related to the protection of the life and health of the child. Later, when the child grows up, "no" becomes associated with the concept of sin. Want to take someone else's? Hit a peer? Take a cigarette and smoke? It is impossible even if no one learns about it and punishes ... In order to resist these and many other sinful desires, a child must be able to control his will. And he can learn this by humbling her in what sometimes seems to be trifles. First of all, in relation to food, which occupies such a significant place in our life. Saint Theophan the Recluse says that a child who does not know the denial of food and is accustomed in this respect to be guided only by his own desires, gets used to willfulness, which, of course, will greatly complicate his future life. “The child is well-wishes; everything interests him, everything attracts and gives rise to desires. Not knowing how to distinguish between good and evil, it desires everything and is ready to fulfill everything that it desires. The child, left to himself, becomes indomitable willful. Therefore, parents must strictly observe this branch of mental activity. The simplest way to keep it within the proper limits is to dispose the children to do nothing without permission. "

It can be difficult for a child to distinguish hunger from whim, especially if he has been overfed. If a child lives in an atmosphere of fasting, then it is easy for him to start observing them himself. For Orthodox Christians, first it is the observance of Wednesday and Friday, then long fasts, a temporary refusal from some types of food, from delicacies. This amazingly disciplines the child, educates his will. When such a child goes to school, gets into a children's collective and will inevitably encounter sinful examples, the skill of abstinence instilled in fasting will be very useful to him.

Orthodox children usually begin to observe long fasts at the end of the period of infancy - that is, upon reaching the age of seven. It is at this age that the child first begins the sacrament of Repentance - begins to regularly confess. Fasting and at little child must be aware. Let it be the fruit of his childhood faith, his own wish and feat. When solving the problem of long-term fasting for a child, parents should take into account the peculiarities of his physical health and psyche. It is also good if they can consult an Orthodox doctor or an experienced priest. But with serious internal pathologies (especially diseases of the gastrointestinal tract), indulgences are made in fasting. In some cases, sick children may eat fermented milk products, or fish, or eggs during fasting. It happens that children with chronic diseases in Great post only meat and sweets are taken away. Some parents, when no refusal is possible, with the blessing of the priest, deprive the child of the dish that he especially loves ... Children who are accustomed to one-day fasts from infancy will be more prepared for long ones that last for several weeks.

What is fasting and can children fast? " Christian fasting- this is not just a refusal to eat any food, it is a conscious and voluntary abstinence with a pious purpose, or, in other words, selflessness for the sake of Christ.

According to statistics, 20% of today's Russians observe the fast, taking into account the “doubting believers”: they start fasting and give up, join the fast closer to the middle or end, fasting loosely, selectively. In this group of “practicing doubters”, there has been a dynamic in recent years - largely due to the youth.
During the period of fasting, Christians not only do not eat meager food (meat, butter, milk, cheese and eggs), but also any other food should be consumed in moderation and at a time determined by the church charter.
Lent - this is the oldest and main fast of the Orthodox Church, preceding the feast of Easter of Christ, was very strict in ancient times: Christians during it did not eat food until evening. Only once a day did they sit down for a meal (gathering for their evenings). This sharply distinguished them from the pagans, who had the habit of eating often.

In the Orthodox Church, fasting is a universal institution, that is, it is established for everyone: monks and laity, and kings, and beggars, and adults, and children. But it is not a duty, an unpleasant duty or a punishment - it should be understood as a saving remedy, a kind of treatment, a medicine for every human soul.
Can children fast and why? And then, why should adults. Children also need to learn to subordinate the flesh to the spirit. Just like adults, through abstinence in food, one must learn to abstain from all evil.

This change gives the child the opportunity to exercise the will. The transition to lean food requires a certain mental effort, the exercise of power over their desires, which is very useful for him. This will make the child more resilient, stronger, help prepare for the inevitable difficulties of life, for the upcoming struggle with passions.
The goal of fasting will be more accurately achieved if the child not only replaces one type of food with another, but also limits himself to excesses and entertainment: for example, he refuses on the appropriate days from treats, from pampering, from too noisy games, from watching TV.

Most parents whose children "eat poorly", without noticing it, overfeed them day after day. Meanwhile, there are general rules and regulations baby food, which are observed, for example, in children's and medical institutions. This is a traditional three or four meals a day at the same time and in a "scientifically" defined volume, with a strict prohibition to eat anything in between breakfast and lunch, lunch and afternoon tea, afternoon tea and dinner. It's good if parents adhere to these rules. But in any case, they should not force-feed the child.

Proponents of therapeutic fasting say that not eating at all, fasting for a while is very good for health. And the less you are used to eating, the better. No wonder they also say: "Keep your head in the cold, and your stomach in hunger."
Modern doctors dealing with the problems of baby nutrition recommend that children (starting from infancy) be given two " fasting days»A week, so that the child's body has a rest from animal food, which requires intense work of the intestines, and receive light, vegetable food.

Health and longevity often accompany it. Disease is never a consequence of correct, statutory, reasonable fasting.

Many modern parents also teach their children to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays from infancy (2.5-3 years old), and usually this goes painlessly - without protests from the children. This is harder for adult, non-fasting family members — usually grandparents. Indeed, in this case, it was the "mother-in-law" who insisted on breaking the fast. Parents know very well how difficult it is to argue in such a situation, and often, in order to preserve the peace of the family, they make concessions for which it is difficult to blame them.
Children's fast, according to the modern position of the church, can be weakened. An overly strict fast according to the Athonite charter is not suitable in this case.

Pediatricians evaluate fasting for children more from the point of view of the child's physiological development than spiritual development. It is believed that until the end adolescence children's menu should include dairy and meat products daily. Although there is a slightly different opinion of doctors. Some pediatricians even recommend introducing 2 vegetarian days a week into the child's diet, and meat is allowed to be given only once a day. Experts are convinced that this will reduce the risk of allergies, gastrointestinal diseases and of cardio-vascular system in children.
The opinions of doctors about the age at which it is permissible to introduce fasting for children (regardless of the conditions) also differed. Some believe that this is permissible from the moment meat is included in the child's menu. Others voice the age of 3 or 7 years.
Some teachers support the early initiation of children into fasting. They are based on the fact that it is easier to introduce a child to fasting as a habit at an early age.

All believers perceive Lent as a very important period of time, during which they have to adhere to strict rules in food. During fasting, with a poetic word, you have to unfold your two wings, one of which is limitation, the other is prayer. Even physicians are ready to perceive such a "duet" as a way of true healing of soul and body.

Lent is considered the strictest and most significant of all established fasts. On all days of fasting it is forbidden to smoke and drink alcoholic beverages, to eat a quick meal. The purpose of fasting is to remove a person from evil, curb the tongue, postpone anger, tame lust, stop slander, perjury, and lies. This is what we have to strive for by any means. Otherwise, fasting remains just another diet, and no more. So you need to change the degree of tension in the spiritual life. As a result, there is a chance to become cleaner.

How to enter a fast correctly

Approach the post competently. It would be a mistake to just one day just limit yourself to all non-lean dishes, this will become a lot of stress for the body. Doctors say that in this case there is a chance to catch a virus or get an exacerbation of a disease of the gastrointestinal tract. It is better to enter the post smoothly. At the first stage, it is worth giving up more fatty foods- meat (beef, pork, lamb), mayonnaise and fatty fish. Further - from eggs and milk.

It is worth giving up fatty meat, sausages, sausages, alcohol, rich bread, sweets, buns, mayonnaise. In this case, fasting will benefit the body and relieve the hard worker-liver. Meanwhile, doctors believe that it would be a mistake to deprive yourself of beneficial microorganisms and a source of protein (fermented milk products, for example). According to doctors, it would be worth leaving turkey, chicken, sea fish and rabbit in the diet.

Limits must be reasonable

If a decision is made to fast the full program, it is imperative to eat nuts (up to twenty per day), as well as legumes. This will make up for the protein deficiency in the body. The theory of a gentle approach to food restriction is shared by many doctors. Each post should be responsible for the restrictions. It is worth thinking more than once: whether fasting will turn into harm to your health, whether you have enough strength - physical and mental. It is worth remembering that a person who deliberately harms his health commits a great sin.

Who Shouldn't Fast

It is not worth entering into a post:

to kid;
an elderly person;
pregnant and those who are planning a pregnancy;
those who were sick not so long ago;
a patient with a chronic disease;
persons engaged in mental or heavy physical labor.

Psychotherapists suggest making the time of fasting a time for working on yourself, you can start by:

change your expectations, get as close as possible to the real possibilities of another person - your loved ones;
to admit the fact of resentment - this will weaken the resentment, allow the emotions to fade away;
try to figure out what catches you - they do not offend us, we offend ourselves;
try to scan your offender - you are surrounded by living people, so you should be more condescending;
learn to forgive;
give free rein to your emotions.

No need to accumulate grievances
Don't think about resentment at night.
You should not sort things out until you are sure that they are ready to listen to you.
Do not forgive your enemy forcibly (you need an inner willingness to do this).

From November 28 to January 6, Orthodox Christians observe the Nativity Fast. But how appropriate is fasting for children? We will find out the opinion of the church and doctors.

Church opinion

Fasting and children - this combination is controversial. Church representatives admit that fasting for children is more precisely a refusal of certain dishes, and not a spiritual feat. But the refusal from entertainment activities for children, visiting entertainment centers is encouraged. Although the ministers are convinced: the child needs to be emphasized that this is the path to Christ, and not punishment. In addition to giving up meat, children will have to forget about sweets during the fast.

Children's fast, according to the position of the church, can be weakened. An overly strict fast according to the Athonite charter is not suitable in this case. For kids, dairy dishes are acceptable, and for those who are older, fish remains on the permanent menu.

Opinion of doctors

Pediatricians evaluate fasting for children more from the point of view of the child's physiological development than spiritual development. It is believed that until the end of adolescence, a children's menu should include dairy and meat products daily.

Although there is a slightly different opinion of doctors. Some pediatricians even recommend introducing 2 vegetarian days a week into the child's diet, and meat is allowed to be given only once a day. Experts are convinced that this will reduce the risk of allergies, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system in children.

The opinions of doctors about the age at which fasting for children is permissible (regardless of the conditions) also differed. Some believe that this is permissible from the moment meat is included in the child's diet. Others voiced the age of 3 or 7 years.

By the way, some teachers support the early initiation of children into fasting. They are based on the fact that it is easier to introduce a child to fasting as a habit at an early age.

The lack of clear norms should not seem negative to parents. The parental freedom to choose whether or not to post a child is an opportunity to evaluate all the facts and make an individual decision that is best for the child.

Lean vegetable cutlets

Take:

500 g potatoes
1 carrot
300 g celery root
1 egg
3 table. tablespoons of flour
3 table. tablespoons of bread crumbs
7 table. tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 onion
500 g champignons
3 sprigs of dill
2 cloves of garlic
ground black pepper

Preparation:

Peel potatoes, carrots and celery root, chop coarsely and boil until tender. Then fold in a colander and mash.
Add the egg, flour to the cooled puree, salt, pepper and mix. Shape the patties, roll in breadcrumbs and fry on both sides on the 5th table. spoons of oil.
For the sauce, finely chop the onion, mushrooms and dill sprigs, then fry everything together in the remaining oil. Grind in a blender, add garlic, passed through a press. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the resulting sauce with vegetable cutlets.

Potato zrazy

Of course, it is difficult to call dietary potato zrazy, but you don't have to eat them every day. By the way, potatoes are exclusively useful product, especially in cold weather, it contains a record amount of potassium, which is extremely important for strengthening muscles, including the heart. Potassium is also needed to normalize intestinal motility, maintain water-salt balance.

Take:

potatoes - 500 g, about 3-4 medium-sized tubers
flour - 4 tablespoons
eggs - 1-2 pcs.
soda - ¼ teaspoon
salt to taste
champignons - 100 g
onion - 0.5 medium head
carrot - 1 pc (small)

Preparation:

Peel and boil the potatoes until tender in salted water. While the potatoes are hot, mash them and make a smooth puree. A blender should not be used because it will turn the puree into a paste.
Cooking the filling. To do this, you need to peel and cut the onion into small cubes, peel and grate the carrots on a coarse grater, put everything in a thick-walled frying pan, greased vegetable oil... Saute the vegetables until the onions begin to acquire a golden color. Wash the champignons, remove the dark areas of the skin, if any, finely chop and add to the onions and carrots. Salt and simmer until tender.
In cooled mashed potatoes add salt, baking soda, eggs and flour. Stir gently until smooth. If necessary, you can add another spoonful of flour, the consistency depends on how dry the puree is and on the amount of gluten in the flour.
Pour flour on the board, take a tablespoon of the finished potato dough and put it on a floured board, make a cake out of it, put a teaspoon in the center fried mushrooms with onions and carrots. Gently close the dough so that you get a bite. For convenience, you can dip your hands in flour.
Put the prepared zrazy in a pan with heated vegetable oil and fry on low heat on both sides until tender. It is delicious both hot and cold; cabbage salad, pickled tomatoes or cucumbers are perfect as a side dish.

We also offer to cook for children a delicious lean carrot cake according to the video recipe:

For caring parents, 7 programs from the series "Learning to Grow with Love" were prepared with the participation of an experienced pediatrician, a member of the board of the Society of Orthodox Doctors of St. St. Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) Zharkov Nikolai Fedorovich.

After watching the report of the Soyuz Trade Center from the series “Learning to Grow with Love” dated February 28, you will learn the opinion of an experienced pediatrician, a member of the Board of the St. the experience of Archpriest Artemy Skripkin and his mother in raising a special child in a loving family.

Almost all parents are concerned about colds in children. In the program of June 6, 2015, at a meeting with TV viewers of the Soyuz channel, pediatrician N.F. Zharkov talks about whether the child should be sick, and how often during the year he has to be treated for acute respiratory infections. During the conversation, most of the parents were interested in: is it necessary to use antibiotics, how to properly deal with fever? A significant part of the time in the program is devoted to practical advice doctor - how parents themselves can help a child with an illness in the first hours, which are very important for a quick recovery. Addressing the parents, Dr. Zharkov said: “You can help the child, yourself, and your loved ones if you assess the situation correctly and begin to provide assistance correctly ...” Answers to these and other important questions for parents and loved ones will be heard in this program.

In the program dated June 13, 2015, Nikolai Fedorovich gives useful advice on the treatment of cough in children, says: what are antitussive drugs? Are they always useful? You will find out in which cases it is advisable to use mustard plasters, and when they should be abandoned. The doctor explains in detail which folk ways treatment of a disease accompanied by a cough can be used at home. A lot of time in this program is also devoted to answering the questions of young parents about the nutrition of children of the 1st year of life.

June 20 broadcast Orthodox pediatrician Nikolai Fedorovich Zharkov answers the most frequently asked questions from viewers sent via the Internet: about vegetative-vascular dystonia, about the pros and cons of vaccinations, about an umbilical hernia - in what cases is conservative therapy carried out, and when is an operation necessary? You will learn what vegetovascular dystonia is and whether it needs to be treated? For each of the questions addressed to the doctor, Nikolai Fedorovich gives a detailed answer and a lot of advice, tested by many years of medical practice.

Children's problems younger age- the main topic of the program of June 26, 2015. Your child has grown up, got on his feet, took his first steps. What difficulties does he have to overcome in front of him and how can you, parents, help him in this? In the program of the Soyuz TV channel, the Orthodox pediatrician Nikolai Fedorovich Zharkov, board member of the St. Petersburg Society of Orthodox Doctors named after St. Luke Voino-Yasenetsky, talks to viewers.

This program of a series of programs on children's health will answer questions not directly related to the topic of health. However, the Orthodox pediatrician Nikolai Fedorovich Zharkov has accumulated considerable experience in the field of education during his long medical practice. At a meeting with caring parents, he will advise: how to wean a child from a nipple, how to teach a child to use a potty, tell about whether a teacher can cope with problem teenagers alone and how to help a “special” child adapt in a team.

This time we bring up the topic of vaccination of children. Why do you need vaccinations in modern society where there are no epidemics? Perhaps a century has already passed when vaccination of the population was a necessity? Should an infant be given multiple vaccinations immediately after birth? Why do doctors strongly recommend getting vaccinated? For whom are vaccinations contraindicated? Let's try to figure it out, weighing all the pros and cons.

A brief overview of television meetings prepared by

full member of the OPV of St. Petersburg, doctor Zharkova T.V.

Learning to grow with love. February 28th release

At what age can children fasting so that it is not to the detriment of health and development? How to replace fast food without losing vitamins and minerals in the diet? Answers to these questions in the heading "Specialist advice" will be given by a doctor the highest category, pediatrician Nikolai Fedorovich Zharkov. Next, see the story about the family of Artemy Skripkin's father. As a dad with many children, he can give a lot useful tips upbringing, but most importantly, it is in his power to cheer up those parents who raise "special" children, because in the family of Father Artemy one of the children is just that.

Nikolay Fedorovich Zharkov, doctor of the highest category, pediatrician : - You can teach a child to fast from the time of the first confession, that is, from the age of 7. The Church believes that at this time the baby has already passed into the category of adult children and must confess. It is possible to formulate the rules for children's fasting: first, children under 3 years old should eat in accordance with the norms that are laid down at this age; second, children over 3 years old, and even more over 7 years old, can participate in fasting; children who are sick, weakened or lagging behind in development, of course, are exempted from fasting.

For children, the post begins with a small restriction, for example, refusing sweets, cartoons, watching entertainment programs, refusing to play computer games. But godly parents need to try to find a replacement for this limitation so that their children do not get bored or feel hurt.

If there are brothers and sisters, then it is advisable that the children do not quarrel during the fast. Schools and kindergartens, of course, do not prepare lean foods, which can cause chagrin in children who seek to fast. But do not worry about this, let them eat what they are offered in educational institutions, and observe the fast at home.

When parents are churched, carry a child every week to Communion, starting from birth, then for such children the transition to fasting is not difficult. Children try to imitate their parents. If one of the adults in the family does not fast and actively opposes, then this can cause a great conflict. Our contemporary, professor and archpriest Gleb Kaleda writes in his book House Church the following: “Fasting for children should be introduced very carefully, it should not cause them either protest or despondency. But fasting develops willpower in children - having learned to deny himself some food, a child, becoming an adult, will easily give up harmful things: drugs, alcohol and dubious amusements. " Therefore, the meaning of children's fasting is very important, and loving parents discuss with the child the tradition of fasting.

Those parents are mistaken who believe that a fasting child will not receive any nutrients and, because of this, will often get sick and lag behind in development. Lenten food is very varied, healthy and tasty. We obtain animal protein, which is necessary for a growing organism, from fish. Fish for students is given in all Orthodox schools and theological academies. Fish is a complete substitute for meat.

Cereals are a source of all essential minerals and vitamins. Vegetables such as beets and cabbage contain manganese, copper and iron. The hostesses make a variety of salads, stewed vegetables. The child will not be left without useful microelements and will not grow thin for fasting. On the contrary, many gain weight while fasting. This comes from the bend in the other direction - excessive consumption of carbohydrates: crackers, cookies, sweets, jams, nuts, flour products.

If the child really wants to eat cottage cheese or other sweetness, it is better to time it for the weekend. But if there is no meat, cheese, milk, cottage cheese in the refrigerator, then the child calms down. And you can do without ice cream and sweets. It is important for the child to understand that fasting is not just fasting, but his personal little feat. The feat that he accomplishes on the path to Christ. And standing at prayers, confession, Communion - all this will strengthen the child, perceived by him as a natural event.

Leading: We invite you to visit with us the father of Artemy Skripkin, a father with many children, who can give a lot of useful advice on raising children, tell how the difficulties faced by a family with a special child are being overcome.

Archpriest Artemy Skripkin: - Satan will urge us not to be satisfied with what we have, and this is his logic of struggle with God and His creation. And we must overcome him with humility. Every day, every morning, we must thank God for what we have.

- In the delivery room, the manager came up to me and said that with a probability of 85% you had a baby with Down syndrome. These words fell upon me, a happy mother who had just given birth to a baby, and changed everything - there were tears, despair. How will I live on? I saw that this was a different child: weak, did not immediately scream, weak sucking reflex. The nurse came and gave him a bottle to drink, but he did not swallow and did not understand what was required of him. Slowly everything began to improve: the child began to gain weight, began to breastfeed, suck milk. Everyone was happy for us.

Archpriest Artemy Skripkin: - We didn't know until the last moment that this would be a special child. At the hospital, an experienced midwife said it was a child with Down syndrome. The wife was very upset, and for me it was a complete surprise - how could this happen to me? And then everything worked out. Now I can't even imagine how we would have lived without Serafimushka.

Daria Aleksandrovna Skripkina, mother: - At first, the diagnosis of a child was in the first place for me, and it was difficult to perceive something through it. But Seraphimka grew up, and I began to feel that the child was in the foreground. The whole family supported us, and I am especially grateful to Father Artemy. I was afraid how my relatives would react to the child, but my parents immediately supported me: "We will all cope with difficulties together, do not worry." My friend said that every day you will have more and more joy. Indeed, it is so. The more difficult the process, the more effort you put into the formation, development of the child, the more joy you see how the child succeeds.

Archpriest Artemy Skripkin: - I look at him, and immediately the mood rises. Its radiance and sunshine are transmitted to the whole family. We somehow group ourselves around him, the children strive for him. A lot of love comes from him and spreads around. In such children, it takes longer and longer - the rate of development is about 1.5-2 times slower. On the one hand, this is sad, because you want to see the result as soon as possible, and on the other hand, when a child begins to take the first steps, saying the first words is a great joy. One wise man told us that this child will bring you more joy than the others, because you will perceive each of his achievements as a gift from God - with exceptional joy. So it is, and this joy is not only ours with my mother, but also older children who participate in the process of raising the baby and love him very much. It is much easier when there are already children in the family - two or three. Then these children can surround the baby with love, and it will be very cool.

- I helped to dress him, I liked to feed him, now my hands are mine. If I had a magic wand, I would have made Simochka recover.

: - Ksyusha was very worried at first, because we did not hide anything. She saw that I was crying, asked why I was crying, because a baby was born. I explained to her in a childish way, as intelligibly as possible, that Seraphim would be a different child: it would be more difficult for him to study, he would later learn to walk and sit. This did not affect her love for her brother in any way.

Tells eldest daughter Ksenia: - Dad said that all sick kids, like Shema, are saints, they need to be supported so that they do not get upset that they are such special children. You need to treat the same as normal children - play with them, even if they look different; you need to love them.

Daria Aleksandrovna Skripkina, mother : - It is necessary to monitor the physical development of a special child more often, to visit specialists more often than with an ordinary child, because such children often have peculiarities in the development of the heart, heart defect; organs abdominal cavity develop differently from ordinary children; there is a thyroid disease. You need to visit a cardiologist, do ultrasound of the heart, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist and other specialists. Naturally, this takes more time. Also, these children have narrowed ear and nasal passages. For example, we cannot cope with frequent rhinitis - it takes 2 months to treat it.

The biggest challenge in physical development is muscle weakness, and this is a very time-consuming job, since muscle mass then it grows, then it goes somewhere. We need systematic work: professional massages, maternal massages, gymnastics, exercises.

Almost immediately, when a special child was born, I began to look for connections, parents with similar children, and we found a center early, where we learned how to stand up, sit down, and squat down. Such children have many mistakes in movements, and you need to work through them a lot so that he immediately learns correctly, because it is more difficult to retrain.

We also attend classes in a group with a psychologist and a speech therapist, which help the child's intellectual development.

At first it was very difficult for me to appear with the baby in the clinic, on the playground - it seemed that everyone was looking at us. But I must say that I meet empathy from unfamiliar mothers, warm words. There was a moment when the child began to walk (we were 1 year and 10 months old), and another mom came up to us, deciding that we were the same age with her 8 month old baby. I had to overcome myself to admit that we are older.

Doctors frighten with difficulties with a special child, frighten that it is necessary to pay more attention, time to such a child. Yes, everything is so, but it is quite surmountable.

Archpriest Artemy Skripkin : - You don't need to make an idol out of a special child, overcome yourself with distressing cares, for example, selling an apartment and doing an expensive operation is wrong. God brings a child into the world to serve God. And the little man is no exception - he is also a warrior of Christ. You need to give God freedom of action, and then the Lord will arrange everything the best way... It seems to us that we will make this child the best happiness, but this is wrong.

Daria Aleksandrovna Skripkina, mother : - Love, joy, happiness of motherhood - this is all there, but sadness remains, changing the attitude towards the world: I began to notice the suffering of other people; my circle of contacts has changed - I began to communicate more with mothers of disabled children; there was a desire to help more needy families with more serious illnesses. Now we understand that problems that previously seemed to us insoluble problems are nothing more than trifles. There was humility in the face of difficulties.

We began to need each other, our family became even more united, we began to help each other more.

Daria Aleksandrovna Skripkina, mother : - There was such a bright moment in our life: we were driving somewhere in a car, I was holding the month-old Serafimushka on my lap, and suddenly it occurred to me that if he was born to other parents? And they would take him somewhere to the institution to give him away, no one would caress him, kiss him, take him on the pens. And these abandoned children suffer greatly from this, they even die without parental affection ... And I thought: Lord, thank you for being born here, we love him very much and will not give him to anyone!

Host: Marina Lanskaya
Decoding: Galina Dzerkale

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