Who’s the strict one?: Ivan, more so.
Who lets them get away with everything?: Neither, are you kidding me? This is Alfred, the man who lives in America, the land of the helicopter parents and soccer moms and Parent magazine and needless to say Alfred is paranoid and won't let him get away with a thing in fear it will permanently ruin him.
Was either one reluctant to be a parent?: Both had different issues with the idea, but some how they came to the conclusion they could do this.
Family Traditions?: Halloween and Christmas are HUGE, its more for Alfred but Ivan goes along, he has Orthodox holidays that Alfred celebrates with him and their son. Alfred reads to him all the time but especially right before bed and for a week every winter they visit Ivan's sisters.
Any requirements of the kids? (bring honor to the family, get married and have lots of kids, etc): Alfred just wants him to be awesome and pursue his dreams and Ivan wants him to be successful and secure.
Overall parenting style: Alfred is always reading about the latest research on anything related to children, he has a subscription to Parents magazine and a number of books sit on his side of the bed. Ivan is more the type to stick to older styles of parenting and advice from his sisters, sometime they forget to cross reference these things and their son is left with two different messages. As for affection Alfred is very giving in hugs and kisses and praise and Ivan is a bit more distant but he makes up for this with piggy back rides and playing 'airplane', Ivan is more old school in discipline and this leads to arguments between Ivan and Alfred.
