Zaruhi Mejlumyan

The sagging clothesline in the yard shows that the family residing inside includes a large bunch of kids.

And in the Nazaryan household, located in Loukashin, a village in Armenia’s Armavir Province, there are seven sons – Boris, Vyachislav, Alexander, Isahak, Aram, Arsen and little Artour; just one month old.

The proud mom, 32 year-old Lousineh Mkrtchyan, smiles as she welcomes her unfamiliar guests inside. She’s already cooked the meal and baked three huge loaves of bread. “The kids will follow one another home from school,” she says.

Four of the boys were born in Russia where Boris Nazaryan, Lousineh’s husband used to work. When I paid a visit to the family, Boris was away working in the village. ol,” she says.

The house in Loukashin is the family’s third residence in Armenia. Lousineh says that after the four eldest boys were born in Russia, they decided to move to Armenia. “We always thought that an Armenian must live on one’s land, build a house and raise a family. We have become so few,” says the mother of seven.

The family rented a house in Sevan and then Artik before moving to Loukashin. The boys have jumped from school to school.

Lousineh says that their present house is temporary and that the owner doesn’t take any rent because the family cannot afford to pay. . She says that she’s even thought of writing to President Sargsyan regarding their housing situation. 

The government allocates a monthly stipend of 69, 500 drams ($147) for all seven kids. The boys’ father also receives a 16,000 dram disability pension per month.

Last year, when they used natural gas to heat the house, the family spent the entire stipend. Lousineh says that this winter they’ll take a loan out and buy wood. 

Saying our goodbyes, Lousineh tells me that she was the only girl in her family and has always dreamt of having a large family.

“Despite all the hardships, I find great calm and joy in my kids,” Lousineh says.