Rimantė Kulvinskytė spoke about what she lacked in childhood: "Parents, like true Lithuanians, loved quietly"
Rimantė Kulvinskytė reflects on her childhood experiences of receiving little verbal affection from her parents, emphasizing the importance of openly expressing love and pride towards children.
In a recent reflection, Rimantė Kulvinskytė shared insights into her upbringing, revealing a cultural tendency among Lithuanian parents to express love in a subdued manner. Growing up, Rimantė felt the absence of loud declarations of affection and recognition from her parents for her accomplishments, which they believed were simply expected of her. She characterized her parents' approach as typical of their generation, where humility was seen as a virtue, and feelings were often kept unspoken.
Rimantė noted that this norm led to many children of her era being raised under the impression that they were not necessarily appreciated unless explicitly told. She contrasted her own upbringing with her current parenting style, stating that she makes it a point to regularly express pride and affection to her children. She believes that acknowledging children’s efforts and sharing both successes and struggles fosters a healthier emotional environment and alleviates pressure on them.
Her advice to contemporary parents is clear: to frequently celebrate their children’s achievements, no matter how small, and to openly communicate love and pride. By doing so, parents can help cultivate a supportive atmosphere where children feel valued and understood, moving away from the silence that characterized previous generations of parenting.