Daughter, Wife, MOTHER

By Marina Kochetova

“My little treasure, my golden one,” many of us heard from our mothers and grandmothers as children. In Russian, comparing loved ones to gold is common. In English, people often use the word “brilliant” in similar situations. Rare diamonds, they say, are found less often than gold. But today’s story is not about jewelry. It is about a treasure in human form — someone who enriches and illuminates the lives of others through her presence, kindness, and care. Especially fitting, since my heroine is the happy mother of three wonderful children, and Canada will soon celebrate Mother’s Day.

Julia Vlaming remembers herself from infancy. One of her earliest memories is her very first New Year’s celebration, when she was only ten months old. That very night, she took her first steps, proving her determination and independence. Her relatives were astonished when little Yulia suddenly appeared in the living room on her own. Before that, she had only crawled, and always under supervision. To accomplish this “journey,” she had to climb out of her crib, hold onto the wall, move from the wardrobe to a chair, and finally pass through a half-open door. Such independence at such an early age already hinted at her extraordinary character. Since then, Julia has walked through life boldly, facing difficulties and setbacks without ever abandoning her goals.

At the age of two, she decided to boil water for tea herself and tried to light a match, burning her finger in the process. The lesson stayed with her forever. Through trial and error, she gained invaluable life experience and carefully preserved every lesson she learned.

At three, Russian-born Yulia began attending an English kindergarten in Moscow. Her mother worked for a British company that paid for the preschool and elementary education of employees’ children. The teachers were British, and all activities were conducted in English. Even her first childhood friend, a boy named Victor, spoke only English.

Wise beyond her years, Yulia understood that her future education would follow a British curriculum in English. To preserve her native Russian language, she attended numerous extracurricular clubs and activities in Moscow, where communication was entirely in Russian. She roller-skated, rode bicycles, played with dolls, and loved drawing landscapes with colored pencils — often beaches and sunshine.

At three years old, she began learning piano with a private teacher, though without much enthusiasm. At six, she discovered dance and studied it for five years. At seven, she joined an art club and soon developed a passion for painting. At nine, she enrolled in a more serious art class taught by an instructor from the famous Surikov Art School. The lessons lasted four hours and demanded patience and concentration, but Julia loved drawing so much that time flew by. One of her paintings won first prize at a municipal children’s art exhibition dedicated to Alexander Pushkin’s fairy tales.

Hard work and perseverance became the guiding principles of her childhood. At eleven, Yulia moved to Canada with her mother. During the flight, she contracted scarlet fever in the middle of summer. Nevertheless, she recovered and began attending a small private Catholic school run by a British principal. Her artwork impressed everyone. One of her drawings — a cat — won a Hallmark competition and was later turned into a greeting card. She also won a poetry contest organized by Seasons magazine.

At thirteen, Yulia transferred to another private school, where she met her future husband Brad, a tall blue-eyed classmate. Her love for art led her to study with a professional painter for five years, mastering oil painting and developing her artistic talent further.

In tenth grade, she decided to devote herself to art therapy — a rare but promising profession. At seventeen, she was accepted into the prestigious Royal Holloway University of London without requiring a foundation course for international students. Alone and still underage, she flew to England, overcoming bureaucratic and personal challenges with remarkable independence.

Studying in England was far more demanding than in Canada. Yet through incredible discipline and hard work, Julia completed an intensive psychology program in only three years, graduating with honours (BSc Honours in Psychology). She later continued her education at the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute in British Columbia.

In December 2011, Julia returned to Ottawa as a qualified specialist. Art therapy was still in its infancy in Canada’s capital, and jobs in the field were scarce. Loyal to her dream, she completed additional training and eventually found the career she had envisioned. In 2013, she opened her own successful business.

Julia Vlaming is the owner of Ottawa Art Therapy, a company providing unique art therapy services in Ottawa. Through creativity and artistic methods, clients explore emotions, reduce stress, and improve emotional well-being. The practice serves people of all ages and offers both individual and group sessions in a safe and supportive environment. Julia oversees the clinic’s work and supports her team, ensuring professionalism and high-quality care.

Beyond her successful business, Julia has a wonderful family — her husband and three beautiful children, Vanya, Kira, and Fedya — as well as a home, loyal friends, a cat, and endless ideas for the future. She enjoys triathlons, skiing with her husband, and many outdoor activities.

So much has already been accomplished by this remarkable woman — and she is only in her thirties. Calm, thoughtful, and deeply philosophical from childhood, Julia has never tried to imitate others or stand out artificially. She simply remained true to herself. A talented psychologist able to connect with both children and adults, she radiates warmth and authenticity. Beauty begins the moment you become yourself — and Julia has never stopped being exactly that.

Based on materials from the author’s collection Flowers on the Roadside.