Anastasia Stadnyk: “Happiness in the family is the most important thing in life”

The first cover of the year is always special, so we decided to dedicate it to the most important thing – family. That is why the main character of the January digital cover of Woman Magazine is a millionaire blogger Anastasia Stadnyk..

While waiting for her second child, Anastasia manages to raise little Milanka, be a support for her husband, run a business, and motivate the audience in her stories to become better and believe in themselves every day. About family, values, feminism, and Generation Z  – in an exclusive interview. 

For many, the past year has been remembered for high-profile celebrity divorces. How do you feel when people first show a perfect picture on the Internet, and after divorces, they reveal the bitter truth? How to keep the balance?

Last year was indeed a shock for all of us. Especially for subscribers, because many blogger couples who showed the perfect picture have broken up. And they did it not just peacefully, but by throwing mud at each other. In fact, this situation does not please me at all, and I am against ostentation. If my husband does not want to appear on my blog, I will support his decision and show myself and the child. We went through a period when my husband didn’t want to be photographed for the blog for three years. I don’t see anything wrong with that. For me, the most important thing is harmony and happiness in the family, not public photos, which usually get much more coverage.

First of all, it is worth discussing family nuances in your circle, and then showing it on the insta-network. I am in favor of everything being comfortable, of everything being discussed. I’m not trying to create a perfect picture, I’m for the truth. If we have a fight, it means it has to be that way, and I can even go on a story with tears. I will not depict a happy family if there is none at that moment. I believe that my subscribers love me for my sincerity.

I am not trying to create a perfect picture, I am for the truth

Historically, Ukrainian families have long had the principle that a man works and a woman raises children. Today, the roles of men and women have changed. What format of family relationships is most comfortable for you?

In the past, it was essential that a man worked and a woman raised children. This has changed a lot. Feminism has made its own adjustments to family relationships. I want to say that I am a person by nature who would not be able to stay at home and raise a child, wash dishes and cook. My vision of family relationships is completely different. I like to develop, not to stand still. I can delegate all the household duties, but I am inspired and inspired by my work moments. The further I go, the more I want to do in different areas of business. I can’t stop, I need this development! I am in favor of both men and women working. In such a situation, the most important thing is to have a single family budget, not to divide who earned how much, but to simply work for the benefit of the family. There should be equality in the family.

What do you personally prefer in the context of the fight for women’s rights: active public protest or the way of an individual who defends his or her rights?

There are a lot of articles and posts about the fight for women’s rights now. As I said before, my position is equal rights in the financial sector. But we are still women, we get married. This phrase explains the meaning of being behind a man. I believe that it is the man who is the head of the family, the support, the wall. A woman is a neck that guides her man. No matter how much I am in favor of women’s rights, I believe that there should still be a hierarchy: husband, wife, children.

It is the man who is the head of the family, the support, the wall

Generation Z is changing the format of the family institution, choosing civil marriage instead of official registration and ceremonies. At the same time, the majority believe that serious relationships should begin after the age of 30, when a personality has already been formed. How do you feel about this social trend?

Generation Z is nonsense, it’s something cosmic, enchanting. These are people with a very interesting mindset. They change us. You know, like grandmothers are shocked by their children, our parents are shocked by us, and we are shocked by the development of our children.   I can’t agree that serious relationships should start after the age of 30, even though this has long been a normal practice abroad. When people have already walked the walk, found their purpose, and have a certain status. For example, I got married at 22, and I can’t say that it was too late or too early. Every person is different. Someone at 22 can build their family, business and move on, while someone at that age is just starting to move away from their parents.

Psychologists increasingly note that the status of “mother” is highly idealized, and because of this, many women change after having children and betray themselves to some extent to meet the ideal norms of society. What do you think about it?

As a blogger who has her own lifestyle diary where I talk about children, I get a lot of criticism, even though I think I’m a good mom because I do everything for my child. My actions are always scrutinized. For example, when Milan was 8 months old, my husband and I went on vacation for 2 days. And I immediately became a grieving mother. In fact, we need to react more calmly to motherhood, to the child, and not create hypercare. It is important for a child to feel loved and supported, but this does not mean that he or she will always be with mom and dad. When parents need to go away for work, for their own business or to be alone, the child can spend time with the grandmother. This creates a certain social circle. I need to do everything wisely, because I am not only a mother, but also a wife, I am a girl who likes shopping and meeting friends.

You are now expecting your second child. If you compare your first and second pregnancy, what significant difference can you note? 

Yes, I am now expecting my second child. This pregnancy is very different from the first one, starting with toxicosis and ending with the gestation process. I can note that the second pregnancy is probably going faster, because I have responsibilities both at home and at work. I’m not obsessing, I’m living my life, but my belly is growing and my due date is getting longer. The most important thing is the family, to keep it healthy and happy. We are trying to do everything for this.

Has motherhood affected you, how has it changed you? What was the hardest part of it?  

Motherhood is the most wonderful period of any woman’s life. You know, even if you feel that you are not ready yet, that children are not your thing, everything changes after the birth of a child. When you see this baby, your instincts, which are genetically inherent, are immediately revealed. A woman becomes more tender, kind, and loving. All my life I have dreamed of having a child. I thought it was something magical when a woman’s body could have one, two, or three hearts beating at the same time. It’s magic! No matter how difficult it is with sleepless nights, illnesses, gestation, and childbirth, this is still a wonderful period. 

Motherhood is the most wonderful period of any woman’s life

What family values would you like to pass on to your children? 

It is that family is the most important thing in the world. And nothing, no one can stand next to this value. After all, when you have a family, you have life, peace, happiness, and joy. And with all these emotions, you can easily achieve your personal goals, develop a successful business, and conquer the world. You draw all your inspiration and energy from what you have at home. You can tell when there are quarrels, resentments, and you can’t concentrate on other things.

Nowadays it is fashionable to be a successful woman in everything – family, career, relationships with friends, sex… What do you think of this approach to life?

I am a person who believes that this is the right thing to do. It’s not fashionable, it’s the right thing to do. You need to balance the time spent on each area of activity. Speaking of family, we shouldn’t forget that time should be allocated not only to the child, but also to the spouse, ourselves, work, and friends. Yes, it’s hard to combine, but it’s possible, because the main thing is desire. I once wrote a post where I said that a woman is not in a circus, she cannot juggle all spheres at once. That is, it can only capture two, and the third and fourth are already on the decline. In fact, anything is possible if you work hard and pursue your goals.

Anything is possible if you work hard and pursue your goals

How has your attitude to your appearance changed over time? Do you notice a trend towards naturalness? How do you feel about him?

I am a person who has repeatedly visited a plastic surgeon and has had interventions in my appearance. I had two rhinoplasties. And when I went to the doctor, I noted that naturalness was very important to me and that I didn’t need to make a thin, small nose. It is important to me that a person who did not know me before does not realize that it was rhinoplasty. I also have my breasts done, but I chose a natural, neat size. The main thing is not to overdo it, to be in moderation and to be in harmony with yourself and your body.

Now is the time for responsible consumption. How do you form your wardrobe for the season? What do you do with things that you are unlikely to wear anymore?

I have my own clothing brand Stadnyk.store. I have my own brand, Stadnyk.store, and the collections are constantly coming out, so the clothes are replenished in my wardrobe, but I always try to sort through the clothes, give them to sales and charity. We need to give clothes a second life, especially when there are people who need them.  I am for responsible consumption! I recommend everyone not to throw away things, but to offer them to loved ones, try to sell them or give them to special institutions that need them.

Tell us about your plans for 2022.

The plans for 2022 are to give birth easily and have a healthy child, to organize our lives after the baby’s arrival. It is important that everyone lives in harmony, because a child turns life 90 degrees and it takes time to adapt all processes, set goals and priorities. I have no material goals. I am in favor of having a balance in the family, peace and happiness.

Text: Maria Kholotiy

Photo: personal archive of the heroine