Local StoriesMay 5, 2022

Meet Dari Borun

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dari Borun.

Hi Dari, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m 32 years old and a mother of three beautiful children. One is a girl who was born with the heart outside of her chest; her name is Virsaviya @virsaviya_art_heart. She taught me how to hand express and pump my milk, how to be strong, compassionate, selfless and courageous, counting on God always believe in better future and opportunities.

Another one is my mixed baby who is three years old; he speaks three languages. His name is Ervin (Vin) @little_prince_ervin_joseph. He taught me how to be a better mother for all of my children, how to breastfeed(tandem nursing two kids currently) and helped me to find my even deeper love and knowledge about gentle attachment Parenting and Montessori philosophies.

And the third one was born in December 2021 his name is Ocean @Ocean_Joseph_Goncharov. And he already taught me how beneficial a tandem nursing is and how easy my exclusively breastfeeding journey could be. He makes me so much better and helping me grow as a mother every minute of his life.

I’m an Instagram influencer @legendari_love – and @LegenDari_Liquid_Love (breastfeeding + attachment parenting page) a domestic violence survivor, an emigrant from Russia who came to USA with my five years old daughter with 0 friends or relatives in the whole country to find a better future for both of us and I did it. I’m An aspiring attachment-oriented psychologist, breastfeeding mama.

I’m advocating for children’s rights to be loved, happy, deeply cared for, securely attached to their parents, breastfed, emotionally accepted, and respected.

My motto is treat a child with love, compassion and respect as if you would treat any adult and if you wouldn’t spank, yell, call names, punish or put on time-out an adult don’t do it to a child!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No one get it smooth because it’s life. Most of my life journey is a struggle starting from an alcoholic family I grew up in, a marriage with a violent and abusive ex-husband, no money, no food to eat, a daughter with a rare condition, hospital life in different cities and states in Russia, drinking my own breastmilk to survive hunger, divorce with a lot of threats and anxiety, a huge work to get to USA, moving here in USA from one person to another, nearly homeless, often hungry, struggling with my daughter’s health, no insurance, huge medical bills, no immigration status, always afraid for being deported, separated with my daughter. Even now when I’m married to an amazing man and having two more kids, having our own house it’s still a struggle especially now with the war that affected me directly.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m known for my parenting philosophies such as respectful, gentle attachment parenting and Montessori. I have two years of psychological education in Christian Academy of Saint Petersburg in Russia. I didn’t finish unfortunately as I had to go to USA to take my daughter to the Boston’s Children’s hospital but I’m hoping to go back to the same field when my youngest kids will be older.

I’m offering to babysit babies and small children in my home where I build a sensory Montessori inspired educational room with open ended toys and close ended wooden materials where kids can learn through play and creativity. I can teach them Russian language. My kids fluently can speak, read and write in Russian. I love kids and respect them without yelling, saying no all the time, punishing them or putting on time out. I give hugs, offer calming techniques, helping children to manage big feelings and solve conflicts with gentle guidance.

I have a small playground on my front porch and many riding devices.

I make hand crochet breast-shaped personalized rattles/teethers from baby yarn, wood and food grade silicone.

I also advertise kids-related items on my Instagram. I’ve had an honor to work with many famous brands for years including those we see on tv and in stores like Target and Walmart.

I’m proud to be a mother and to empower other moms to breastfeed and to be a better parent for their kids. I’m proud that many people saying that my advice helped them to not give up on breastfeeding, to respect their child, to research more about Montessori and attachment parenting.

I’m proud to normalize breastfeeding through my pages and my hand-made rattle, “The milk giving breast”.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
My favorite podcast is “Psychology in Seattle” an attachment-oriented psychologist and professor doctor Kirk Honda.

Books
“Love is a choice”
“Discipline without distress”

Super helpful Instagram pages:
@legendairymilk
@biglifejournal
@transformingtoddlerhood
@feedinglittles
@lalecheleague

Contact Info:

Image Credits
“Mint and cocoa photography”-Luz Elena Silva “Shestakova photo”- Irina Shestakova “Eveliz photography”- Marina Nazariyan “V&R photo”- Ruth Dolcine

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