2024 in Russia has been declared the Year of the Family, and therefore the regions are paying special attention to supporting families. In the Tula region this is no exception. Strengthening traditional family values, as well as creating conditions for raising future generations, is a priority for the region. Raising a worthy future begins first and foremost with the family. And where there is a positive example of parents, there are purposeful children.
A TN correspondent talked to the Zherdev family – 36-year-old Kristina Alexandrovna and 39-year-old Alexei Ivanovich. They live in the village of Izbishchi, Novomoskovsky district and are raising 8 children: the eldest daughter Angelina is 15 years old, the youngest son Alexander is only 11 months old.
The couple met as students: then Kristina was studying at a music college, and Alexey was studying at the Department of Automated Control Systems at Ryazan University.
Kristina also received a pedagogical education and for some time worked as a teacher of Russian language and literature. Maternity leave with my youngest child interrupted my teaching career, but my mother still plans to return to work at school. Now the main family business is working on the home farm.
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Both parents grew up in large families: dad had three children, while Christina’s grandmother was awarded an honorary badge – she raised 5 children.
“I couldn’t imagine that there would be few children in my family,” Christina laughs, she watched films where there were many children and cried, “I was afraid that it wouldn’t be like that for me.”
Don’t you think that today, in principle, future parents have less and less desire to have a large family and children?
– There is such a thing, but, in my opinion, it’s not very good.
It seems to me that if you were born, why not try to give life and love to someone else?
According to my mother, society began to not quite correctly understand the meaning of such a decision.
– Many people believe that we give birth for some privileges, for payments. And sometimes, when I come to the hospital, I’m even a little ashamed when they try to let me skip the line. The rest of the women, even with one child, are also mothers.
How did you find out about the Badge of Honor of the Tula Region “Motherly Glory”?
– In principle, the state supported us well as families with many children. Despite the fact that we gave birth to children, of course, we did not require any help for ourselves.
And someone suggested that you can declare yourself for “Mother’s Glory”.
To do this, it was necessary to collect characteristics – our neighbors, teachers, and at my work at school were very willing to help us.
With all this, Christina is the village elder. Perhaps the neighbors really have something to love and respect the family for.
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Together the Zherdevs spend a lot of time on the farm. They make homemade dairy products and care for animals. Many children, following their mother, study music – it seems that just a little more, and they will be able to assemble their own quartet. Music lessons, according to Christina, are very important – from childhood, children were fascinated by the songs that their mother played.
The eldest daughter Angelina is now in 9th grade, and decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and enter a music college. She mastered the guitar herself and chose the horn as her main instrument.
14-year-old Alexey, according to his parents, is “more about housework” and wants to connect his life with tractors. The boy himself saved up for a moped and… a goat. The young owner wants to buy rabbits too. When my mother was pregnant with my youngest, he helped milk the cattle, albeit under her supervision.
14-year-old Veronica dreams of becoming a veterinarian, 9-year-old Violetta has just started going to music school for piano class – 7-year-old Yaroslav also went with her. In addition to them, the Zherdevs are raising 5-year-old Vlad, 3-year-old Vladimir and 11-month-old Alexander.
And versatility and openness to new things are a principle in the family.
– It is important to discern in children what they like, what they are inclined towards, and support them. At the same time, understand that it is impossible to succeed in everything; not everyone can be Lomonosov or Pushkin.
The mother of 8 children herself, as she admits, is an extremely creative person:
– I sing and dance. Sometimes the parents’ committee is surprised: do you need more than everyone else? But I can’t sit still. And when the children are also happy, it’s absolutely gorgeous.
What other principles do you adhere to?
– Probably the most important thing is mutual understanding. Listen to each other and try to help.
And also patience.
So there is no jealousy between children?
– No, we never had one. We never asked if anyone wanted a brother or sister,” Mom laughs. “Often the older ones babysit the younger ones, they understand that the parents are tired.
They will cook food, play with the younger ones, help with the housework, and all this – together.
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Kristina Zherdeva is sure that not only those with many children deserve the order, but any good mother deserves an award.
What advice, as an experienced mother, could you give to girls and young women, those who are yet to take on such an important role?
– Mother’s love will always warm and support a child. Mom, whatever one may say, has these qualities – kindness, patience, hard work – I even always explain this to my daughters.
You shouldn’t be afraid of other people’s condemnation – very often evil people talk about people with many children and their demands, about the fact that they take advantage of their position. But this is not always the case.
Move away from this society – live for yourself and your children.
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Perhaps the story of the Zherdevs is that motherhood is not about heroism and badges of honor. It is about conscious “together” and the strongest rear.
Increasing the birth rate and supporting families are among the key objectives of the “Demography” and “Family” national projects, which will start in 2025. In the Tula region there is a wide range of measures to support families with children and young families. A regional demographic standard will be introduced at enterprises in the region. It includes best practices for creating comfortable conditions for combining work and family responsibilities. You can get acquainted with all family support measures in force in the region on the Family71 portal and in the Social Services Navigator.
How do the Zherdevs’ experiences compare to the broader societal views and government policies surrounding large families in the Tula region and Russia as a whole?
## Interview: The Zherdev Family – A Model for the Year of the Family?
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today, we’re diving into the heart of family values, inspired by the “Year of the Family” declared in Russia and the inspiring story of the Zherdev family. We’re joined by both Kristina and Alexei Zherdev, parents of eight children in the Tula region, to discuss their unique perspective on modern family life, the challenges and joys of a large family, and their views on societal attitudes towards large families.
**Section 1: The Zherdev Family Dynamics**
* **Interviewer:** Kristina and Alexei, thank you for joining us. Your family is truly remarkable, with eight children ranging in age from 15 to 11 months. What first inspired you to have such a large family? Did you always envision this path for yourselves?
* **Interviewer:** Raising eight children is undoubtedly demanding. How do you manage to balance your own personal aspirations and commitments with the needs of such a large family?
* **Interviewer:** What are some of the biggest joys and challenges of raising a large family? How do you navigate sibling dynamics and ensure each child feels loved and supported?
**Section 2: Societal Views on Large Families**
* **Interviewer:** The article mentions a shift in societal attitudes towards large families. Do you feel this shift? What are your thoughts on why some people choose to have fewer children or delay parenthood altogether?
* **Interviewer:** do you face any misconceptions or judgment from others about your decision to have a large family? How do you handle these reactions?
* **Interviewer:** Kristina, you expressed concern about people viewing large families solely as recipients of state benefits. How do we encourage a more nuanced understanding of the motivations and rewards of having a large family?
**Section 3: Supporting Families & The Future**
* **Interviewer:** Alexei, the article mentions your experience working on the ”Motherly Glory” award program. Can you elaborate on the application process and what this recognition means to your family?
* **Interviewer:** With the Tula region promoting family values and support measures, what additional initiatives would be most impactful for families like yours?
* **Interviewer:** Looking ahead, what advice would you give to young couples considering starting a family or expanding their family size? What are the essential elements for building a happy and fulfilling family life, regardless of size?
**Conclusion:**
* **Interviewer:** Thank you both for sharing your valuable insights and personal experiences. Your dedication to family and your commitment to community inspire us all.
We hope this discussion encourages a deeper understanding of the complexities and rewards of family life and sparks a continuing dialog about how to support families in achieving their unique goals and aspirations.
**Note:** This interview structure is designed to be conversational and thought-provoking. It allows the Zherdev family to share their unique experiences while prompting reflection on broader societal issues related to family values, support systems, and individual choices.
