Raising 22 children would be a challenge for even the most competent parents.
But a couple living in the world's coldest city in eastern Siberia have revealed the extra effort required when sub-zero temperatures as low as -30C are added.
Aleksandr and Oksana Pavlov welcomed YouTube creator Kiun B. to their home in Yakutsk, Sakha, to show what an average day looks like: Long lines in the bathroom, two dinners and putting on warm clothes are part of the daily routine.
The duo has a total of 22 children, 18 of whom are adopted, and they range in age from six to 37 years old.
In one clip, Aleksandr explains that they initially adopted three children in May 2003 and as their family grew, he quit his job as an engineer to provide more support at home.
Aleksandr and Oksana Pavlov from Yakutsk have a total of 22 children, 18 of whom were adopted, and they are between six and 37 years old
The duo welcomed YouTuber Kiun B. to his home in Yakutsk to show what an average day looks like
In one clip, Aleksandr explains that they initially adopted three children in May 2003 and as their family grew, he quit his job as an engineer to provide more support at home
While eight of their children have now moved out and started families of their own, the Pavlovs still have 14 children and young people to look after
While eight of their children have now moved out and started families of their own, the Pavlovs still have 14 children to look after.
Oksana says while sitting by her husband's side, “During the holidays, we love being together and having fun with activities like cooking and playing.”
“We feel blessed to have such a large and loving family.”
At the start of the short, YouTube creator and narrator Kiun B. explains that Aleksandr “starts his day bright and early, going outside to collect ice to ensure his family has enough clean drinking water.”
The patriarch is seen dragging a transparent block of ice from the yard to a utility room, where he places it in a container of water to melt for drinking.
Kium B. reveals that the family “faces the challenge of not having access to the central water supply.” [and they] They rely on water reserve containers to store the water needed for their daily activities.”
In the next scene, two of the Pavlovs' youngest children, Nastya and Ramina, ages 6 and 9 respectively, are seen being woken up to go to school.
However, since it's -48°F, Ramina has the day off since her elementary school “doesn't work” in temperatures below -45°F, but Nastya's daycare continues, so she brushes her teeth and gets ready.
Since it's so cold outside, the film cuts to show Aleksandr checking the heating in the house “to make sure his family stays warm on this freezing morning in Yakutsk.”
The narrator continues: “Despite the extreme cold, Aleksandr and his family rely on two gas boilers to keep their home comfortably warm at 30°C.”
“Given the size of their 3,800 square foot home, heating costs are quite reasonable at around $200 per month.”
By 7:40 a.m. the entire household is awake, lines are forming in the toilets, and Oksana is continually serving breakfast.
One of the main breakfast dishes is “traditional Yakut pancakes” as they are “an energy-rich food” and are served with homemade blueberry jam.
At the beginning of the short film, YouTube creator and narrator Kiun B. explains that Aleksandr “starts his day bright and early and goes outside to collect ice cream.”
The patriarch is seen dragging a transparent block of ice from the yard to a utility room, where he places it in a container of water to melt for drinking
The narrator says: “Despite the extreme cold, Aleksandr and his family rely on two gas boilers to keep their home comfortably warm at 30°C.”
By 7:40 a.m. the entire household is awake, lines are forming in the toilets, and Oksana is continually serving breakfast
Luckily, the Pavlov family lives right next to a school and the kindergarten is only a five-minute walk away
With limited space at home, the Pavlovs have two sittings at each meal, with the youngest eating first.
After a hearty breakfast, the children leave and make their way to school.
In one scene, Oksana is seen dressing one of her children in down dungarees, and the narrator explains, “From a young age, locals understand the importance of dressing appropriately to withstand the harsh winters.”
“They wear insulated pants and special winter jackets designed for extreme weather,” she said.
Luckily, the Pavlov family lives right next to a school and the kindergarten is only a five-minute walk away.
Aleksandr and Oksana chose the location of their home with their children's safety in mind and ensuring that they would not have to walk too far outside in extreme weather conditions.
The narrator reveals that “older siblings look after the younger ones and make sure they get to kindergarten and school first to prevent them from freezing.”
In one scene, four of Pavlov's older children are seen huddled together waiting for a bus to take them to a university in the city center.
The voiceover states that “the situation could quickly become dangerous and with no bus in sight, they must rush home or try to flag down a passing car to avoid frostbite.”
Luckily the bus will arrive in a few minutes. As seen in the film, the buses are painted red to make them easier to see in thick fog or snow.
In another scene, some of Pavlov's children are seen braving the cold weather to play outside, and when they get too cold, they go back inside.
To keep their kids entertained indoors, Aleksandr and Oksana built an indoor gym for their brood.
One of the main breakfast dishes is “traditional Yakut pancakes” as they are “an energy-rich food” and are served with homemade blueberry jam
Many viewers have praised the couple for their commitment to parenthood
While the environment may seem difficult for many, Aleksandr says in the film that he believes the cold weather “makes us resilient and hardworking.”
In another scene, some of Pavlov's children are seen braving the cold weather to play outside, and when they get too cold, they go back inside
As seen in the film, the buses are painted red to make them easier to see in thick fog or snow
To keep their kids entertained indoors, Aleksandr and Oksana built an indoor gym for their brood
At the end of the day, Aleksandr prepares a barbecue for dinner and finds that the foal meat he uses to make skewers “cooks very quickly.”
Meanwhile, in the warmth of the kitchen, Oksana prepares fish and traditional fried pies with meat and rice.
The narrator notes that “unlike other regions, vegetables in Yakutsk are very expensive and rare due to the difficult growing conditions.”
“Fruits are also rare in the traditional Yakut diet. Instead, people often consume frozen berries, which are preserved and can be stored for a longer period of time,” she said.
Another important feature of the Yakut diet is soup, and the narrator reveals that locals eat it every day as it “not only fills their bellies but also warms their souls on cold winter days.”
Although the environment may seem difficult for many, Aleksandr says in the film that he believes the cold weather “makes us resilient and hardworking.”
He says the most important thing is to “stay active” as it helps you “stay strong and maintain good health to get through the harsh winter days.”
When it comes to navigating such a large family, the film shows how important it is to “establish routines and delegate tasks.”
Aleksandr and Oksana receive government support for their monthly expenses, which they use to provide food and clothing for all of their children.
Many viewers have praised the couple for their commitment to parenthood.
One commenter wrote, “Some people are mostly concerned with themselves.” But these lovely parents are only focused on their children.
“Such a beautiful example for the children.” “Thank you for this heartwarming documentary.”
Another viewer said: “Absolutely incredible.” A wonderful family, selfless parents raising so many children who needed a home. They continue to thrive in such harsh conditions! Thumbs up!'