IT families: Anton and Maria Zaichenko

Anton Zaichenko, city — Bishkek, frontend developer

Maria Zaichenko, city — Bishkek, marketing lead

About Us

Maria. We met at work. At that time, we worked in different companies, but our offices were located in the same building. I was a project manager, and Anton worked at a programming school and, you could say, was preparing future colleagues for me.

For some time, we just occasionally crossed paths on the stairwells, then started talking during lunch. For several months, Anton showed me signs of attention, made surprises, and we had many conversations. At some point, I realized that he was the person I wanted to walk through life with, day by day.

Anton. An interesting fact: even a couple of years before we met, I was following Masha on Instagram. Then, I somehow saw her message in a local developers' chat and was pleasantly surprised to find out that we worked in the same field. A couple of years later, we met at work, and now we have been married for four years. This year, we became parents.

How We Entered the IT Field

Maria. I entered IT while studying in my first year at a humanities university. Studying on a state-funded spot at a local university, after the first semester, I realized that this was not what I wanted to do and started looking for a job. My first workplace was that very programming school where Anton later worked. That place became the starting point, and I have been working in this field for eight years now.

Today, I lead marketing teams at Mad Devs, an international software development company. I also head marketing for our product, Enji.ai. This product helps analyze the productivity of engineering teams and make data-driven decisions. I work remotely on a part-time basis because I combine the role of a manager with that of a mother.

Anton. Since childhood, I was surrounded by computers and various gadgets. I spent a lot of time at my parents' workplace—they had one of the first large advertising agencies in our city—and I helped out as much as I could. Perhaps that’s when my interest in IT began. In school, I participated in programming olympiads, and after graduating, I enrolled in a foreign university for a degree in Software Engineering and obtained my higher education.

After university, I worked in development for a while, but at some point, I faced burnout and left IT for several years, working with my hands in a workshop. Thanks to friends who continued to work in this field, my interest was reignited, and I decided to return. First, I started working at a programming school, and then I joined Mad Devs, where I have been working as a frontend engineer for several years. I have a flexible schedule and work remotely from home full-time.

Distribution of Responsibilities

Maria. The arrival of a child, of course, brought its own adjustments to our daily life. Today, we have truly become a single team and strive to help each other in everything. We do not divide responsibilities into male and female. Each person does what they can, know how to do, and want to do. If there is something we do not want to do, we simply do not do it, but if it needs to be done, we usually do it together or ask for help from each other.

Anton. I am one of those people who do not have free time. I always have a huge list of tasks or desires that keeps me from sitting still. Most of our "free" time is spent on various activities—ranging from selecting building materials and home repairs to joint evenings playing computer games or watching documentaries.

Each of us also has personal time during which we do something interesting for ourselves. For example, I model and work with a 3D printer, while Masha knits or draws something. We are interested in each other's hobbies, but at the same time, each of us has our own personal interests that allow us to take a break from daily routine.

Family Traditions

Maria. It is difficult to single out any specific "traditions" in our family. We are not the type to celebrate holidays and dates loudly. We do not need special occasions to spend time alone together and do something special for each other.

Anton. As for family values, honesty, sincerity, and directness can be highlighted in our relationship. We are not shy about openly talking about our feelings, emotions, and desires. These qualities are the main pillars supporting the well-being of our relationship. We are open to each other, always ready to listen and accept, find solutions even in the most difficult situations, and support each other. In fact, this is not as easy as it may seem. I think not everyone in a relationship is ready for this.

Combining Household and Work

Maria. Combining IT work with family and household chores is not difficult. Although we both work a lot, I think we have somehow adapted. We have lowered the priority of some tasks, help each other where possible, and share responsibilities, and sometimes one of us takes on tasks if the other does not have time.

Sometimes it is difficult to switch between work and household tasks, especially considering that we work together, sometimes even in the same team, and are constantly at home next to each other. This is probably the only difficulty, but we are learning to cope with it, and it seems we are succeeding.

Anton. After the birth of a child, combining work and family became more difficult. No matter how you look at it, the needs and condition of the child always come first, and there are moments when it is hard to focus on work. Otherwise, combining them is quite feasible, but there is sometimes not enough time for everything one would like to do, so priorities have to be set.

Recommendations for a Happy Family Life

Maria. The key to a happy family is self-sufficient and happy participants. Personally, I can say that I was not such a person, and therapy and the appearance of Anton in my life helped me with this. Therefore, I want to recommend to those who are reading this not to be shy or afraid to go to therapy if you have a request. I think that by understanding and befriending yourself, you increase your chances of building happy, long-lasting, and harmonious relationships.

Anton. Be sensitive and attentive to your partners. Do not belittle or underestimate their feelings and expressions. Be open and support each other.

How IT Families Differ from Others

Maria. The peculiarity of IT families lies in how many resources work requires and how much is left for the family. IT takes a lot of energy: a large flow of information and a rapidly changing environment often exhaust people. Therefore, it is important to be flexible, know how to set priorities, communicate with each other, and be partners. Fortunately, IT also teaches this.

Anton. The peculiarity of our family is that we both not only work in IT but also in the same company, and sometimes—in the same team. It turns out that Masha often acts as my "boss." We are comfortable with this, although for some time we had to learn to separate personal and work matters.

As for families where both partners are IT specialists, I think they find it easier to find common ground on some issues. They are "marinated" in the same environment; such people often have a common context and enjoy supporting conversations about work or work-related hobbies, helping each other.