Djokovic Family's Unusual Rules: Children Forbidden from Blowing Out Birthday Candles, No Physical Punishment Allowed

Jelena Đoković, wife of tennis legend Novak Đoković, is raising their children, Stefan and Tara, with a unique approach that eschews physical punishment, a practice she believes marks a significant shift for their family and potentially the future.

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My children are the first generation of children in our family who have never been beaten. I received them from my parents, my mother before me, my father, my grandparents, Novak's as well. Stefan and Tara are the first generation, and I believe that not responding to mistakes and misinterpretations of emotions with violence will truly change the world. I think it's a big quantum leap in changing history and the future.

"My children are the first generation of children in our family who have never been beaten," Jelena stated during a panel discussion. "I received them from my parents, my mother before me, my father, my grandparents, Novak's as well. Stefan and Tara are the first generation, and I believe that not responding to mistakes and misinterpretations of emotions with violence will truly change the world. I think it's a big quantum leap in changing history and the future."

Beyond discipline, Jelena has introduced an unconventional birthday tradition: her children are no longer allowed to blow out candles on cakes. She explained her reasoning, drawing a parallel to the tradition of lighting candles in churches for the living and the deceased, where candles symbolize sacrifice, light, and the dispelling of darkness. "How then did we adopt the tradition of celebrating the birth of life by blowing out a candle on a cake while making a wish?!" she questioned, deciding to change this custom in her own home.

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How then did we adopt the tradition of celebrating the birth of life by blowing out a candle on a cake while making a wish?! I asked myself and wished that at least in my home I would change this custom.

Novak Đoković has also spoken about his children, notably expressing a desire to return to Kosovo with his wife to baptize them. He described Kosovo as the "center of our culture, our identity, our tradition, and our faith" for every Serb, acknowledging the region's delicate political context.

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I want to return to Kosovo with my wife to baptize the children. Stefan, who is eight years old, and Tara, who is five years old. I know this is a delicate issue, that the conflict is still present, although it is no longer armed, but there is a lot of tension. I don't want to get into politics, but for every Serb, Kosovo is in the heart, it is the center of our culture, our identity, our tradition, and our faith.