I bet you were expecting a family photo with happy mom and dad and their two kids, beaming at the camera. I went with statistics rather than emotions and this is what statistics have shown me:
Divorce rate: above 50%
Children more often live with their mothers than fathers.
So minus dad.
Children born/woman: 1.4
With regional statistics of fertility rates constantly manipulated, it means it’s more likely there is 1 child per family than 2 or more.
So mom and her son or daughter.
A generation ago, such families were called “incomplete”. Now it’s just an average family.
The family is coming home on subway, tired and asleep after a fun day in the park.
We are missing a very important member of the family.
Grandmother, or babushka.
Russian men live on average 16 years less than women.
So it’s only babushka.
Babushka stays home with the child when mom is at work. Often mom works two jobs to have ends meet so babushka becomes the child’s second mom. She brings him/her up. She has a strong will to live at least until the child grows up and comes of age.
On this picture she stands, looking into the dark tunnel through the window. I wonder what is she contemplating?
Penny for your thought, babushka and God bless you and your family.