ur family story begins in 2005 when we met during graduate school at Rutgers University- Camden campus. Tatiana came to the United States from Ukraine to study public policy on a United States Department of State fellowship. Atnre was also about to start his graduate studies and we ended up working together at a research center on campus. We fell in love while crunching crime data together at work (a “crime data love story“), taking graduate classes, and engaging in community service together. We got married in 2007 and kicked off our careers in research, policy, and education. In 2009, we created a nonprofit college access organization —TeenSHARP— that helps students of color and low-income students attend and thrive at top colleges. After a stillborn son in 2010 and several miscarriages, Atnre and Tatiana had a daughter, Zoryana, in 2015, and two sons Nazariy and Taras in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Tatiana, Atnre and the “3PAC” (3 Poladko Alleyne Children) live in Wilmington, Delaware.
Why we started Parenting Free
We have spent over a decade working alongside hundreds of families as they prepare their children to attend and excel at America’s best colleges. We’ve supported families through the victories and struggles of parenting and witnessed the weight that so many carry as they seek to provide the best opportunities for their children.
Now, as parents to three wonderful children, we’ve been granted the privilege to love, support, and prepare our 3PAC. It’s a journey full of new insights, challenges, questions, disappointment, and loads of joy. We’re trying our best to parent our PAC free from guilt, full of faith, and grounded in love and learning. This blog is our attempt to chronicle our journey and share any reflections that might prove useful for other parents or caregivers. We hope you’ll join our Parenting Free community!
