The phrases “I cannot do it or I do not want to do it” are not typical for me”. “With my husband, who has an understanding for my profession, we are well-coordinated, so besides the specific job we have happy and satisfied children”, says Zlateska. She is our first interlocutor in the series “Parenting and Career”, in which we want to present how people with more specific professions organize their lives and raising children.
I’m a professional soldier working in the ARM for 12 years. Discipline and strictness are part of my professional life. But at home it is different. Yes, I expect the children to make their beds every morning, but not perfectly, says Verica Zlateska, a military policeman in the Military Police Battalion.
She has been married for eight years with Zlatko, a former member of the special operations military unit “Wolves”. Their son Mihail is 6.5 years old and daughter Martina is 5 years old.
– It is a great advantage that my husband understands my work – says Zlateska.
There are situations when soldiers are on duty for 24 hours, or are on terrain two, three, four, five days. In extreme circumstances they are engaged all the time.
-My absence from home, she says, depends on the assignment I have. The longest period was two weeks when we were in Romania on an exercise.
We talk about everything with Mihail and Martina
Professional soldiers go to work each day. Every morning they have a line up, then exercise for at least two hours, followed by training, cleaning equipment, learning … They spend their working days in military boots, but that’s not a problem for them. They are accustomed and love the work, she says.
– I cannot say that coordinating career and maternity is simple, but with good organization and the help and support of my loved ones it can be achieved- says Verica.
The conversation with the children, she explains, is crucial so they can understand that Mom will not be home for a long time.
– I prepare them with a conversation. We say that although Mom will not be home, Dad, grandmas and grandpas will be there, they always help. If I have an opportunity while I am absent, I call them on the phone, to hear what they are doing. There are situation when we cannot talk often, but that’s my job, it cannot be different. With my husband we share house chores and everything is achievable – says our interlocutor.
The kids are proud of their Mom
We met in the barracks “Ilinden”, where everything was organized with military precision.
– The children are proud that Mom is a soldier, a military policeman. I do not let them see me in a uniform often, yet they know, understand what I am doing and are already old enough to understand what my job looks like and that I may not be with them in the park for the weekend. Then, when we see each other, we compensate that with hugs – says Verica.
The son, although older is more emotional, and the daughter is a little rascal.
– I usually come up with a new toy on the door. For Martina this period it is most often associated with the characters from the cartoon “Frozen”, and for Mihail from “Cars” or “Ninja Turtles”. For the upbringing of children we are well-coordinated and organized with my husband, we have the same methods. Joking aside, there are no military rules at home, especially not with the children, but we set reasonable boundaries what can be done and what cannot. Certainly, besides the children being healthy, the most important things for us are to be happy, sociable and socialized, not to be aggressive, to know how to handle different situations, to be examples of good pupils – says Zlateska.
I knew what I wanted and what was expected of me
Verica explains that when in a uniform she is a soldier, but as soon as she takes it off just a simple woman, with everyday obligations. Make-up and uniform do not go together. Moderate make-up is allowed, and there is also a dress code respected about the civilian clothes worn when arriving at work.
Natasha Boshkovska-Zlatkova, May 5, 2018
Source: Деца.мк
