"Save the family album. .."

This headline is taken from a note published on June 26, 1986 in Pravda by a veteran of the Navy, Captain 1st Rank of Reserve S. Butov. The note attracted attention, made me think seriously.

"Leaving for the front in October, 42nd," the author writes, "Volodya Tashin, a friend of my youth, put a home photo album in his bag. He believed: along with him, his family will be there, and that is why it will become easier for a soldier in a difficult moment. ..

I well remember the pre-war time. How many were the same family albums in our village - in the families of classmates and neighbor comrades. From the pictures we were looking at us with our pure and righteous face revolution and civil war: young people in military uniform, with a rifle to the ready, with a naked checker placed on his shoulder, or a Mauser in his hand. We, the boys, peered into the photos and were mentally carried away to the exciting world of the "red devils", familiar to us only from books, films and from the stories of the elders. The youthful romance of the soul excited the imagination. We regretted that we were born late and that we will not soon be wearing military uniforms. "

It just so happened that in the fifties the albums began to "go out of fashion", they were pushed into drawers of tables and chests of drawers, away from prying eyes. As if we were ashamed of something in our own history, or the history itself was considered almost a museum affair. Why? Now you can hardly name the real reasons. However, we feel a kind of moral gap in our heart, formed with the "resignation" of the album in our everyday life. Collected together under a common cover, the scattered photographs form the most visible chronicle of the family, the imprinted tree of life and conceal in itself an excellent opportunity for upbringing.

"Some can say:" It was a long time ago. Time has changed. Now not the family traditions. Do we need to stand up for the return of what went away on its own? "But here is an everyday episode. I show my grandson my military photo. How he treats her! How much lively interest, ordinary childish curiosity in the eyes! So, there is this invisible connection of times, therefore, the heart responds, then, not so useless cargo is stored under a thick cover. "

In the final part of his reflections, the author emphasizes that, apparently, it is not entirely reasonable to "stuff" the current boys and girls with a distant history. After all, in the present century, with its swift tempo, very recent events become a legend. Already pictures show us the courage of the first builders of BAM, the feat accomplished at the military outpost, the testing of characters in a long difficult transition. All this, of course, is very useful in such a delicate, delicate matter as the moral maturation of our children. We think the veteran of the Armed Forces is right. In fact.

There is another detail that you can bypass silence, probably not. Butov recalls his conversation with specialists of family education at the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences. We also talked about albums. Are there many of them today in families? Are they prestigious? Does the parents care for the lack of a photographic "roll call" of generations? Do children need to join parents' lives and biographies?

Someone, obviously, will be interested, what is the conclusion in the end. That's the point, that is not too optimistic: in fact, very many parents themselves underestimate the importance of their own experience in the education of their own children. It's a pity! And at the same time, practically in every family, they are happy to show their guests a photo album "Your Child", enthusiastically telling about the "abilities" and "achievements" of the heir, who, incidentally, often sits here at the table with a full plate of sweets. Grateful words to the address the kid perceives not without obvious pleasure. In total, from the pot, two inches, but he is already the "hero" of the family.

But the real hero - the grandfather of our heir who hit a fascist tank or shot down an enemy aircraft, is not at the table, he is gone forever, and no one will see or hear him again. And a photograph of it is rarely shown to anyone. Particular? May be. But is not this the beginning of distortions in education?

In the twists of everyday business, we often do not think whether we need photo albums with pictures of our grandparents, people blood relatives, those who are no longer there. Finally, do we need an album with our own photos that have captured us in different moments of life. And he, imagine, you need. Sometimes it is extremely necessary. And to us, and to our children.

Have you ever had moments when, cleaning an apartment or rubbing books on shelves, did you meet old photos that you could not tear yourself away from already? You took them in your arms, looked at them for a long time, and were mentally carried away far from the present day, from home, from the work begun. You brightened face, mentally adjoined to what once warmed you, was a part of your life - sometimes very difficult, complicated. Did not you feel that way?

And after all, the past was resurrected, seemingly forgotten, until then silent photographs of a long time. Today they talked to you. They spoke unexpectedly. But, fortunately, a good, kind language of old memory. We touched some strings in my soul, which immediately responded. And my heart felt warmer.

So why do not we take care that these photos resonate with our children? Let it be different than ours. But something will sound. Can not help but sound! And who knows if the one that is not audible to others will serve as one of the most durable knots in the intergenerational connection. In this resonance sincerely believed. But it depends largely on ourselves. On whether there is a family album in our house. And, of course, from the desire, the ability, at least occasionally, together with the son or daughter to look into the family archive, to conduct a conversation about those who are captured in photographs, about their good deeds.

It's not difficult to make an album, if only you want to. But in return, much is acquired. What exactly? Of course, of course, do not list. At least. ..

Sooner or later your son or daughter will be offered in school to write an essay, say, "Who would I take as an example in life?".In practice, very often the ideal for children is a literary hero. .. Well, why not a member of their own family? Why not the closest relative who, if speaking in essence, has brought much more benefit to our society than the generalized character of the work of art?

You can explain this fact, of course, by many circumstances. But, I think, with careful analysis, inevitably there will be found among the reasons the absence of a family album in the house. The educational value of it is truly priceless.