"We cook in 10-liter pots and deliver in batches to schools: heartfelt stories from mothers raising 8, 10, and 12 children."
Photo: personal archive.
Every year, the last Sunday of November in Russia is dedicated to the most important person in everyone's life. "Komsomolskaya Pravda" congratulates all mothers on their "professional" holiday!
The word "mom" encompasses an endless number of feats performed in the name of love and devotion to their children. Komsomolskaya Pravda-Irkutsk has gathered heartfelt stories from women who bear the responsibility of caring for a large family.
BAKING PIES AND MAKING PANCAKES BY THE HUNDREDS
44-year-old Olga Sorokina from Transbaikalia is a pediatrician at a clinic and a mother of many. In her first marriage, the woman gave birth to seven children. Unfortunately, her husband passed away due to heart issues. They lived happily together for over 20 years. Olga had to raise her daughters and sons alone until she met Yuri. After their wedding, the couple welcomed a child together, whom they named Seryozha. Notably, Yuri also has an adult son and daughter.
- I constantly pamper my loved ones with pies, pastries, and pizza. I end up making huge bowls full, - says the mother of many. - And of course, I make pancakes by the hundreds. But I don't stand by the stove all day. I cook on four frying pans at once!
0Olga hails from the village of Chara, and she met her first husband while still in school. Photo: from the personal archive of the publication's heroes
The head of the family works as a security guard at a creativity club, while the mother is on maternity leave. Olga's eldest son, 24-year-old Matvey, has his own family and lives nearby. 20-year-old Arina is studying at a university in Tomsk, while 16-year-old Lukerya has finished her cadet class and is training to become a veterinarian. In addition to the newborn, 12-year-old Vera, first grader Tikhon, and preschoolers Yeremey and Lyuba also live with their parents.
- Medications are very expensive. Children tend to get sick in turn, one after another. Each quarantine brings significant expenses. Traveling for a large family is also not a cheap pleasure. We traveled with the kids to the Black Sea and visited Crimea. Tickets for the same train sleeper class add up to a considerable amount. But we try to go together. It's also challenging to provide each child with good technology. I never chased brands and tried to limit my children’s use of gadgets. However, when they sit down to study online, it turns out that either the computer can't handle the program, or the phone is outdated. The most challenging period for our family was during the pandemic when everyone was home and learning remotely. It felt like a call center (laughs).
But the woman still finds time for herself: she visits beauty salons, consults with a psychologist, and enjoys reading literature. During her maternity leave, Olga plans to pursue another degree in defectology.
FATE GAVE US TEN CHILDREN
- I never thought I would become the mother of a whole "football team," - smiles 40-year-old Olga Nebyshynets from the village of Maksimovshchina in the Irkutsk region. - I expected to have three children. But fate blessed my husband Timofey and me with ten children! We love each of them very much.
The family lives in their own house and manages a household. The Siberians keep 20 chickens, two goats, a cow, a calf, and they plant a large vegetable garden. In the evenings, the parents gather with their children at the table to share successes and discuss matters. All the kids do well in school, getting mostly fours and fives, and they are also interested in music: 16-year-old Vladislav plays the piano and alto trumpet, 13-year-old Ninela loves the piano, 11-year-old Matvey plays the cello and trombone, while 8-year-old Arina plays the violin. The youngest daughter, Aline, is one year old. Veniamin is two, Eva is four, Vale is six, and the twins Timur and Lilia are nine years old.
1Timofey and Olga met in 2003, and they married only in 2007. Photo: Administration of the Irkutsk region.
Each month, the couple spends about 50,000 to 70,000 rubles on food, clothing, and transportation for the children. Recently, the family received a "Gazelle" vehicle from the Irkutsk regional government.
- The children help me a lot. The older daughters look after the little ones, help with cooking and cleaning, and they even know how to milk the goats. The sons already go to work with their father. The boys are a great help: mixing construction mortar, bringing tools. In return, he gives them money for pocket expenses.
THEIR OWN BASKETBALL TEAM
42-year-old Yulia Gileto from Irkutsk is raising 12 children. She met her future husband in her hometown of Nizhneudinsk. At that time, the young man was the leader of a Christian youth movement and came to a meeting of like-minded individuals. The young people immediately took a liking to each other, but it was time for Denis to return to the regional center. A few months went by, and the young man returned, this time to propose. Yulia accepted.
- A little later, Denis introduced me to his father, and then we moved to Irkutsk. We filed an application at the registry office and had a wedding. A few months later, our firstborn daughter Liza was born. She was born on my birthday!
After that, the arrival of each child only strengthened their bond: Liza is 21, Ignat is 19, Mikhail is 18, Anna is 16, Nikolai is 15, Denis is 13, Timofey is 12, Ilya is 9, Pasha is 8, Solomon is 5, Joseph is 3 years old, and Vera is just seven months old.
Each of the children has their own chores at home: some milk the cow or feed the piglets, while others take care of the kitchen or the yard. The older ones help the younger ones and do homework together.
- I have to cook a lot. I practically spend the whole day at the stove. In the morning, I make several types of porridge and omelettes. I always treat them to fresh pastries: pies, rolls, cookies. And I cook soup in 10-liter pots, - admits Yulia. – If it turns out especially tasty, that amount is enough for half a day. I don’t count cutlets and pies individually; I usually measure them in bowls. I can make about 30 pieces at a time.
2The Gileto family has 9 boys and 3 girls. Photo: from the personal archive of the publication's heroes. Photo: personal archive.
Currently, the Gileto family has five schoolchildren studying in different grades. Yulia admits that her phone is literally buzzing with parent chat groups, and she has to take them to lessons "in batches."