The story of the Žlabiai family, which has been discussed throughout Lithuania until now, prompts such a question. After the death of their two-month-old daughter, the Child Rights Protection Service wanted to take all the children from the family. Questions arose due to the unusual lifestyle of the Žlabiai family: Smiltėja Žlabienė gave birth to all the children at home, the family does not recognize vaccinations, their children do not attend regular school – they are homeschooled. There were witnesses claiming that the Žlabiai children were often hungry and went without food. Others said that the Žlabiai are raw foodists, and some said the family does not use medical services.
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“I do not do ultrasounds during pregnancy. Only once at the beginning to confirm the pregnancy. That is my decision because I know the negative effects of ultrasound – it can even negatively affect the DNA structure,” said Smiltėja Žlabienė on Thursday evening at 8 p.m. on the LNK show “For or Against?” about her lifestyle.
Such words from the woman raised an eyebrow from pediatric gastroenterologist Vaidotas Urbonas: “Then we shouldn’t live with dolphins either, because they emit ultrasound, and we shouldn’t use microwave ovens.”
All six Žlabiai children remained with the family after the investigation. However, Smiltėja Žlabienė still calls the Child Rights Protection Service’s assistance an attack on their family.
Child psychiatrist Linas Slušnys explains that he does not agree with the Žlabiai lifestyle. “The state should have intervened a long time ago and provided help to the family. I’m not saying the children should be taken away, but they need help, and for some reason Mrs. Žlabienė calls that help an attack,” says the psychiatrist.
However, meditation and transformation practitioner and friend of Smiltėja Žlabienė, Simona Kupetienė, who also chose an unconventional lifestyle, claims that after this incident with the Žlabiai family, people in her environment have said they would be afraid to give birth in Lithuania. “I spoke with a friend who lives differently, and she says she would be afraid to have children because if you live differently, your children can be taken away from you.”
Asta Geštautaitė, who grew up in a Jehovah’s Witness family, is outraged by the Žlabiai family’s choices.
“That different life and imposing your lifestyle on children does not end well. My mother involved me in a sect, imposed her choice on me, and I constantly lived in fear. I had to recruit people to Jehovah’s Witnesses, I did not celebrate any birthdays or Christmas, and my connections with relatives were broken,” says Asta.
In her opinion, children should grow up free and be able to choose what is acceptable to them. “What I hear from Smiltėja Žlabienė is all about her, not about the children,” says Asta.
Who do the children belong to – the state or the family? A heated discussion – this Thursday evening at 8 p.m. on the LNK show “For or Against?”
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