Elena L. (EII) - The importance of family and friends

I had a very happy childhood. I was lucky with my parents. My father loved me very much. In my earliest childhood I had a wonderful relationship with my dad. I loved him so much — at first even more than my mom. He always carried me on his shoulders, always played with me. I was always on my dad’s side. He always fulfilled all my whims. We would walk down the street and I’d say, “Dad, catch a pigeon for me!” He would catch a pigeon, bring it home, then I would feel sorry for it and we would release it. Such bright moments in life!

I was a capricious and spoiled child; I always wanted everything to be my way. My mom didn’t try to indulge my whims — she stood her ground. Sometimes we argued when she took me to kindergarten. I knew she didn’t like it when I got sick. And here’s one vivid episode: I walked out of the building and stood under a water drain. Mom comes out, looks, and I’m all wet. “See, Mom, now I’ll get sick, and you won’t be able to go to work!” Mom said: “Well, now I’ll put you on the gas stove, warm you up and cook you!”

We had a wonderful kindergarten teacher, Zinaida Petrovna. There was complete understanding between us, I had girlfriends, and the boys liked me. When we danced, all the boys wanted to be my partner.

My childhood was very happy, but when I started school, things began to change somehow. As I got older, I began to understand my mother more, and my relationship with her started improving.

<...> I need a person with whom, walking side by side, I will create harmony both in our relationship and in business.