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Hosted by Zharko Dimitrioski and Croatian actress and UNICEF ambassador Mirna Medaković-Stepinac, the first regional Becutan conference welcomed nearly 200 attendees from Macedonia and across the region. 

Understanding the needs and challenges of modern-day parenting, Becutan was proud to organize this unique event, which focused not just on care but on nurturing every child from day one.

The conference addressed sensitive topics and major challenges that today’s parents face, often influenced by social media’s illusions of perfect parenting. Is there a measure for boundless parental love in raising children, and does it have limits? How has parenting evolved over the decades? Are there right answers to the many dilemmas parents face? These were just some of the questions public figures and experts from various fields related to child development from Macedonia and the region openly discussed.

PANEL 1: "Does mom or grandma know best?" 

Babies don’t come with an instruction manual – it’s up to the parents to make the first move!

Doctors, early childhood development experts, and psychologists all agree that parenting is perceived much more complexly today than it was in the past.

Dr. Amra Junuzović - Kaljić, a pediatric specialist, emphasized the need for a shared understanding between past and present family roles: "What unites us all is our love for our children. Though they may have different methods, both parents and grandparents ultimately share one goal: the best for their children.”

Panel participants (left to right): Dr. Natko Beck, Pediatric Specialist and host of HTV’s “Dr. Beck” (Croatia); Prim. Dr. Marina Pop-Lazarova, Neonatologist (Macedonia); Dr. Irena Bralić, Pediatric Specialist (Croatia); Dr. Goran Vukomanović, Pediatric Specialist (Serbia); Dr. Amra Junuzović - Kaljić, Pediatric Specialist (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Prim. Dr. Marina Pop-Lazarova – neonatologist, highlighted the essential role of understanding that each child is unique, stressing that generalizations about perfect parenting often add unnecessary stress to parents. 

Dr. Irena Bralić – pediatric specialist, emphasized the importance of an individual approach in raising a child, free from the pressures of today’s trend to “be modern.”

PANEL 2: BALANCING LOVE AND BOUNDARIES 

In personalized parenting, only love should be boundless!

Is there a balance between emotions and setting boundaries in raising children? How often do parents second-guess themselves? Are parents presenting the best version of themselves to their children, and does idealizing motherhood increase pressure toward perfect parenting? These were some of the topics mothers and experts discussed, sharing their perspectives on timeless parenting dilemmas.

“I don’t believe setting boundaries or even purposeful discipline means emotionally distancing from our children. On the contrary, boundaries must exist, but each approach should be unique.

Every era has its challenges. If my greatest punishment was not being allowed to play outside, that wouldn’t have the same effect on my children today,” stated host Sanja Kužet.

Jelena Holcer, educator and founder of “School for Parents,” noted: 

“Our grandparents and parents were much simpler in transferring values to their children. They have a slight advantage in that regard, compared to us. Today’s children, thanks to the vast availability of information (Internet), can find their own answers to certain questions. Or, if they don’t like our answer, they can simply seek out a different one,” she explained.

Dr. Beck added: “We are the limit in parenting. Our example shows children how far they can go.”

Panel participants (left to right): Mirna Medaković-Stepinac, Croatian actress and UNICEF ambassador (panel moderator); Ruzhica Maksimovska, Editor of “Portret” magazine (Macedonia); Dr. Natko Beck, Pediatric Specialist and host of HTV’s “Dr. Beck” (Croatia); Lejla Filipović, host and model (Croatia); Sanja Kužet, Host (Serbia); Jelena Holcer, Educator and author of the “School for Parents” program (Serbia).

PANEL 3: DAD IS A HERO 

Fatherhood is not a duty, it is love!

The final panel of the First Regional BECUTAN Conference was dedicated to fathers and their special role in children’s growth and development, offering sincere answers to questions about the emotional transformation that comes with fatherhood, while also expressing firm views on the traditionally prioritized role of mothers.

Panel participants (left to right): Zharko Dimitrioski, host and panel moderator (Macedonia); Sashko Kocev, actor (Macedonia); Petar Benčina, actor (Serbia); Tarik Filipović, actor and host (Croatia).

Actor Petar Benčina remarked: “Asking ‘Does the father help?’ is entirely the wrong narrative. It’s simplistic to equate caring for one’s child with merely helping the wife. Fatherhood is a fully complementary role within family life.”

Panelists agreed that the strong bond between father and child begins from day one, sharing personal experiences about fatherhood’s role in children’s emotional development.

“When I became a father, I realized life splits into ‘before’ and ‘after.’ It was then that I truly felt the weight of real responsibilities,” noted actor and host Tarik Filipović.

Actor Sashko Kocev stressed that the key to healthy parenting lies in natural family, or partnership, relationships regarding the division of responsibilities: “Parenting isn’t an Excel spreadsheet. Flexibility, based on both parents’ schedules, is probably the secret to success. It’s only natural for me to take care of the child when my wife has a shift, and for her to take over when I’m filming. No signatures or stamps are needed for successful parenting.”

Zharko Dimitrioski, who also moderated the “fatherhood” Becutan panel, highlighted his own experience as a new dad, emphasizing the importance of the father’s role, especially in the early days after the baby is born, when the habits for healthy parenting are formed.