village during the Soviet era.

Parents were strict with their children—they could slap them, spank them, grab them by the ear, and drag them off somewhere. But be aware that parents loved their children very much; they just didn't want them to grow up to be klutzes, so they tried to teach them a lot. They also taught their children to work: boys—chop wood in the yard, nail boards, help their father with the car, and so on. Girls were most often taught to cook, sweep, and dust (boys did these things too, but they were mostly taught other skills).

Girls were friends differently—they could argue, too, but their fights were short-lived, unlike boys'. Girls played with dolls if they weren't quite grown up yet, and they also helped babysit the younger children, just like boys. Overall, their friendships differed slightly.

In the past, boys would often argue and fight a little (not to the point of bloodshed, just to "swing" a few times), but they still mostly valued their friendship. They could exchange gumball inserts, help keep an eye on the younger children if their friend was busy.