Guinness Names World’s Most Productive Mother Mind-Bending Mama
You may have heard of Octomom, the California mother of 14 who gave birth to octuplets, or the woman in Morocco who gave birth to nonuplets in 2021, all nine of whom are alive and well. These record-breaking moms have nothing on Mrs. Feodor Vassilyev. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the 18th-century Russian woman gave birth to 69 children — including 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets of quadruplets! Even the Guinness editors admit the story seems unlikely, but they cite “numerous contemporaneous sources” to back the story. The first was a monastery in the town
of Nikolsk, northeast of Moscow, where monks recorded and reported the births to Moscow officials in 1782. The Lancet, a respected medical journal, recounted in 1878 an account by French researchers from the “Statistical Works of Russia,” showing that Mrs. Vassilyev’s husband had spawned 87 children by two wives. Separately, The Gentleman’s Magazine, an 18th and 19th-century English periodical, published a report by a writer claiming to have an original letter, dated 1782, saying that O.S. Feodor Wassilief (sic), age 75, had 69 children via 27 births by his first wife and 18 children via eight births by his second wife, for a total of 87 offspring! Citing information from an English merchant in St. Petersburg, the writer said 84 of the children had survived, and the father had been invited to meet the empress, Catherine the Great. The first Mrs. Vassilyev’s remarkable record suggests that she was pregnant for 243 months, or more than 20 years, of her life — more than half the average life expectancy of Russian women in that era!
Sunny Days, Solo Steps Summer Strategies for Newly Divorced Parents
SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS ARE STILL WORTH SHARING. Even when a divorce is amicable, some moments that were once a family affair become experiences without the other spouse. You may even engage in a new hobbies with your child
If there’s one or more schoolchildren in your household, you know how fun — and hectic — summer can be. With everything from daily activities to lengthy seasonal vacations looming, the next few months will undoubtedly present a busy schedule that will create lasting memories. Unfortunately, if you’re about to spend summer as a recently divorced parent, it could also be a time of new stresses and a lack of direction. While no two divorces or co-parenting situations are alike, here are two thoughts to help you and your young one(s) make the most of your first summer without the full family. SUMMER CAN BE A SEASON OF SURPRISES. If your family’s typical summer traditions are no longer on the agenda due to divorce, consider using your newfound solo time with your child to explore new possibilities. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to introduce them to hiking or see if they would enjoy baking as much as you do, or maybe they’ve expressed an interest in art or taking up an instrument. Introducing new activities they enjoy will help turn what could be an uncomfortable time without the other parent into opportunities for fresh adventures that could broaden their horizons.
that are exclusive to your time with them. Encouraging your child to share these experiences with the other parent through photos, stories, and mementos can help them feel connected despite their absence. It’s a great way for your child to foster a greater sense of involvement with them. For example, if you and your child have taken up crafting, perhaps they can create something special for their mom or dad. If both parents agree to take this approach, separate activities can feel more like shared family moments rather than competitions between separate camps. Your first summer as a single parent may feel different, but it doesn’t need to prevent you — and, most importantly, your child or children — from adjusting to the change positively.
2 — rbbfirm.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator