Posted on 12/17/2005 12:16:57 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO, United States (AFP) - Complete with proud smiles and self-conscious glances, Vladimir and Zynaida Chernenko's seventeen children were introduced to the world.
Cradled delicately in Vladimir Chernenko's thick arms was his baby, David, whose birth on December 7 gave the Ukrainian-American family the largest brood in the United States, according to the Russian language newspaper The Speaker.
"When we got married back in the Ukraine, for six month we had no children and thought we wouldn't have any kids at all," Vladimir told reporters at a celebration in Bethany Slavic Missionary Church in Sacramento.
"I never thought I would have such a family."
Vladimir said he was serving in the Ukrainian army when his wife wrote in a letter that she was pregnant.
"I said how could this happen, me in the army and she is at home pregnant?" he recalled with a laugh. "I was young then and didn't take into account we had lived together a while."
The family emigrated and settled in California seven years ago, the couple said. Vladimir is a security and maintenance worker for a charter school and the family lives in a seven-room house in Sacramento.
"It's a lot of work, and we all get tired, and it's difficult from financial point of view," Zynaida Chernenko conceded when asked if having such a large family was difficult.
"But, we overcome the fear by looking forward to our children with love."
The children, the eldest of which is 22, share duties and responsibilities, with the older ones filling in for their parents at times, the mother said.
"It takes a great deal of work to raise all of the children, on each level," Vladimir said. "Education and upbringing plays a large role, but the most important thing is love and a big heart."
It also helps to have a 15-seat mini-van and a huge dinner table, the family confided.
"I talk to my friends, and they are worried their family has only one child or two," said 18-year-old Dimitry Chernenko. "They go home to nothing. I come home from school and I'm never bored. You always have something to do."
Part of that is by parental design, the mother explained, because she and her husband make certain the children keep busy with school, chores or other tasks.
"Our goal is to raise the children so when they grow up they will not be afraid of anything in life," Zynaida said. "I think if every family approaches it that way, we will have a very healthy society."
The siblings do not squabble about portion sizes, television channels or other matters because their dad has driven home the importance of putting aside selfishness in order to survive as a family, 17-year-old Anatoliy said.
"We sit all together, put out the food and eat like a regular family," said 16-year-old Lyudmila "Sometimes we wait for each other to finish, and then feed the little kids."
The father and mother said it was difficult to estimate how much they spend weekly on food, because the money goes out as quickly as it comes in.
"It's impossible to say how many diapers we've changed, because back in the Ukraine we didn't have those things," Vladimir said. "We used other means."
The huge family group appeared to be thrilled by the presence of reporters and the notion of being on the television news.
Two-year-old Timofey, however, napped in a sister's lap as the family fielded questions and posed for pictures.
"It's cool to be called the biggest family in America."
The couple expressed thanks for the support they have received from Russian and American business people, along with their church.
When asked whether David would be her last baby, Zynaida replied: "I can't say."
"I am grateful for all my children, my wonderful husband, my friends. And, I'd like to thank my doctor."
Zynaida(L) and Vladimir Chernenko(2ndR) arrive at a press conference with 16 of their 17 children where it was announced that with the 07 December 2005 birth of their son David, the Chernenko family is the largest biological family in the US in Sacramento, California(AFP/Monica Davey)
This family might be a bit extreme but I miss the days when "big" families (at least four kids) were the norm.
Its not time-released, comrade. You might want to at least verify with some simple math.
America needs more European immigrants like this family.
Do they mean the biggest Ukrainian-American family, or the biggest family of all? There must be some families bigger than this in the USA today. I worked with a gal (about 25 years ago) who was one of 19, and hubby knew 2 families with 20+ kids when he was growing up.
There were 8 of us and I knew of much larger families, 12 and more, in our neighborhood.
Po' Momma,, ;-}
man , you have to love kids when you're talking that many.. wow.
This is a great story. Thanks!
It's an AP story. Research is not something the AP does.
I thought about the Duggars, too, when I read the article. God Bless these families, their emphasis on God, love and family is what is often lacking in today's world. You would not believe the snide comments I would get when I was pregnant with our youngest.
I agree. Or at least, I would agree if it wasn't against the law to do so.
Most women don't figure out they are pregnant at that very moment!
It takes a month or so to start questioning! :-) GG
"I love my cigar, too, but I take it out of my mouth once in a while."
Barefoot and pregnant....yeah, that's the ticket
I'm sorry to hear it. We only have two so far, but hope to have many more. :-)
Feel sorry for those fools, for foolish they are. When they are old and lonely, maybe one of your kids can go visit them in the nursing home where they've been dumped...
The parents don't speak English and are on welfare.
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/13430667.htm
Sorry folks, but they are irresponsible and selfish. This isn't a "good thing". This is an excellent example of what is wrong with our society. Mom and Dad come to America, never bother learning the language and breed kids like rabbits while on welfare.
Yup
Stand-up comic Carlos Mencia, whose family is now in California (and whose act is quite pro-American, BTW), is one of 18.
Liberty1970, you will never regret the ones you have, it's the ones you didn't have that will sadden you. They grow up so quickly, into very nice adults who bless you with grandchildren, and that makes it even better.
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