The Otomer family was recognized by Vecumnieki as the “Honorary Family of Latvia 2024” – BauskasDzive.lv

The family of Roberta and Agrita Otomer of Bauska region, which has seven daughters and two sons, has been selected as the “Honorary Family of Latvia 2024”, the portal was informed by the Latvian Association of Multiple Families.

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Continuing the tradition started in 2023, the Association of Large Families of Latvia (Association of Large Families) invited local governments to apply for a large family, which currently has at least three children in its care and which is a worthy example of successfully balancing work, family life and public participation, and which would be honored to receive the “Latvijas Honorary Family 2024” title.

Two families were nominated from the Bauska region – the Otomer family and the Lukyanovići family. The 37 families applied by local governments were evaluated by the heads of eight associations of large families that are part of the Association of Latvia. On Wednesday, May 1, the Large Family Festival took place in the Riga National Zoo, where the laureate families of the “Latvian Family of Honor 2024” competition were honored. The winner of the contest was the Otomer family from Vecumnieki.

Roberts Otomers is the dean of the Bauska branch of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (pastor in Vecumnieki, Valle and Bārbele parishes) and a computer teacher at Valle elementary school.

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“There are different reactions to large families. Mostly people are happy, but there are times when people don’t understand why so many children are needed. The Bible says that children are a gift from the Lord. We perceive every child as a gift! We are glad that he is. That is the main reason why we have so many children – we are happy about children. I think it’s a gift to ourselves and to society. I remember a funny incident when we had our fifth child. I had gone to VSAA to apply for benefits, as usual after the birth of a child. And there the employee, accepting the application, tapped her colleague on the shoulder and said: “Look! This young man had one child each in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013, and now one more!” He looked at me and said – just don’t leave Latvia! It made me think about the fact that it is really a value for society,” R. Otomers admitted in an interview with Latvijas Kristīgajs radio.

When asked why there are few big families in Latvia, R. Otomers admits that people are afraid to give up their conveniences, the usual comfort. “Of course, if you have children, they will simply have to donate their time, sometimes putting aside personal desires, entertainment, hobbies. In addition, the material world view is deeply rooted in part of the society – to earn, spend, achieve certain living standards… And often there is no place for children in this race.

In my opinion, this is a question of a moral nature, which depends on the settings of a person’s life, because it is not materially provided families that have the most children. I think it is the already mentioned rejection of some imaginary life standards that scares people.

I believe that the main value in our society is certainly not all children, but material things. The main value of children is in those families in which they are really born! At the same time, we do not think that we are very special or in any way better than others. We are happy for our children and are happy! Of course, this does not exclude the fact that I try to convince others: a big family is wealth!” says R. Otomer.

To the question of whether it is possible to encourage the formation of large families. R. Otomer answers that the society’s value system must change, because as long as the cult of consumerism reigns, this is impossible. “If the pursuit of money is the highest value, there is no place for a large number of children in such a value system. And those who think otherwise will always face some misunderstanding or condemnation.

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In addition, let’s not forget that there is still a large number of abortions in Latvia, which definitely does not contribute to the increase in the number of children. It is sad that it is justified by the desire to live better… But do only material things, the amount of money, make life better?” so R. Otomer.

“I think families with many children should show by their example and their lives that it is great to be parents even if there is more than one child! The stereotypes that many children are only in socially disadvantaged families, that children walk around unhappy and unwashed, must be broken. We can show it with our example! But, I think, it doesn’t have to be directed only outwards, say, so that only others can see that everything is fine with us. It requires internal self-organization.

Each child teaches us something new as parents, each child brings positive changes to the family they enter. It is a thorough school of life. Of course, sometimes I think about why people have said something negative or offensive. Then I try to remind myself that usually behind such a mask of condemnation hides some great pain, that something in my life has not happened as I would like. I don’t take it personally. Maybe people should try more to let go of life, to enjoy it, instead of just rationally analyzing what is happening?” Agrita Otomere expresses.

The competition is organized by the Latvian Association of Large Families and financially supported by the Society Integration Fund. The Association of Large Families of Latvia was founded in 1991. Initially, it was formed by four legally independent organizations of large families. Currently, the association includes eight organizations – in Riga, Liepaja, Jelgava, Jelgava district, Daugavpils, Vecumnieki and Stopiņi district, bringing together approximately 600 families with three or more children.