Cultural values, beliefs, and traditions significantly affect family life. They dictate family member's roles and responsibilities toward one another. Our culture is a "guide" that helps us remember and follow our traditions. Every culture has a model of the ideal family. Russian manners differ from American behavior stereotypes in terms of the way children treat parents and elders, birth rituals, and the relationship between a husband and wife.
First of all, in the Russian family, culture is significantly different when it comes to parents and elders. In Russia, the grandmother and grandfather have the highest privileges in the family, whereas in America couples make their own decisions. Russian culture teaches us that older people have wisdom, and younger ones must always listen to themÍž Therefore, older members of the family dictate rules. On the other hand, in the USA, kids rarely listen either to parents, or to grandparents. American children are much more independent at an early age than Russian kids. Also, Russian children are very close to their parents. Most of the time they live together, or if children are married, they live in the same neighborhood with the rest of the family members. In my home country, it is normal when parents come to visit their kidsÍž Moreover, they cook food for them and help with financial needs. Russian families are always involved in each other's problems. In contrast, in America, when a child turns 18 years old, he starts an adult life: kids move out and rent their own apartment. In fact, they start work and support themselves financially. Russian families always control the life of a child, even if the child is 30 years old, whereas American parents prefer not to be involved in the private life of their kids. Elders in my country, after they retire, usually spend time raising grandkidsÍž On the contrary, American elders enjoy their retirement, and often they travel.
