Canadian Couple Welcomes 100th Grandchild
EmailJust in time for Christmas, Viktor and Aneta Urich of Grande Prairie, Alberta, welcomed their 100th grandchild, the Daily Herald-Tribune reported.
The Urichs, who are in their early 60s, have 16 children. Their eldest son, Heinrich – father of newborn Henry – has nine kids younger than 12.
“We get along fine,” Heinrich Urich told the Herald-Tribune. ”It’s not boring. There’s always something interesting going on.”
The Urichs aren’t the first to hit the 100-grandkid milestone. Bai Ulan, a widow from the Philippines, was recently photographed with some of her 107 grandchildren, 138 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
The average U.S. family size is 3.19, according to 2009 Census estimates.
For the Urichs, having 100 grandchildren – half with names like Henry and half with traditional Russian names – can be a little confusing.
“There are a few hard years, but when the children grow up, it gets easier,” Viktor Urich told the Herald-Tribune.
And with such a big family, it’s tough to get everyone together. But the Urichs plan on two reunions per year – one on each grandparent’s birthday.
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There aren’t many problems in the world that I can’t trace to over-population. Thanks folks, really needed more pollution.
Posted by: cloud | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 1:11 pm
Well, they seem pretty close knit. That’s good.
Posted by: Zen | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 2:26 pm
Really, could the interviewer NOT BOTHER to ask a more important question than the one not asked? namely: “Mr. and Mrs. Urich, do you believe our planet has an upper limit on how many humans it can support, and if so, don’t you think you alone have done the job of 25 families in pushing us closer to that limit?”
Posted by: Bill Planey | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 2:30 pm
Sounds wondeful…..my great grandmother had 12 living children. Each of them had 4 to 6 each. They in turn have had 4 to 6 each. Then our turn 4 for me. 2 to 4 for my cousins. Being blessed with children is a wonderful thing, and who’s to say enough is enough?….. very unhappy people. By and by I have 2 Grandchildren, I am so blessed
Posted by: Giselle | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 5:58 pm
“There aren’t many problems in the world that I can’t trace to over-population.” ————————- Here’s a problem – Not enough people paying into Social Security. – - – - Let’s see the tracing…
Posted by: Logicsgood5 | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 6:00 pm
REALLY? You irresponsible morons, animals breed indiscriminately, humans are capable of CHOICE, way to teach your children to be mindful of the planet. Hope you’re enjoying your 15.
Posted by: Eve | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 6:00 pm
Sorry Planet Whiners – if we placed the entire earth’s population into the state of Texas, Texas still wouldn’t have the population density of NYC. Hmm. Oh well, Save the Planet…..
Posted by: Logicsgood5 | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 6:06 pm
No t.v.???
Posted by: L. J. | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 6:40 pm
Logicsgood5: “if we placed the entire earth’s population into the state of Texas, Texas still wouldn’t have the population density of NYC.” Ah, the old Texas parlor trick…with the reasoning that there’s no overpopulation because we could put the entire world’s population in the state of Texas and everything would be A-OK. Really? So if we put everyone in the state of Texas along with every person’s share of their need of space, food, water, energy, and waste, then that area wouldn’t look like hellish wasteland after about a day? I think we need to put the old Texas population trick to rest now, don’t we?
Posted by: Stan | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 6:44 pm
Logicsgood5
It’s not that there aren’t enough people paying, it’s that there are too many drawing. We have people drawing Social Security who aren’t even citizens of the United States. I don’t care if they’re legal or not, If they’re not citizens, they shouldn’t be getting Social Security. Social Security was designed for citizens and only citizens.
We now have immigrants drawing Social Security who have never paid into the system. Immigrants, as in population growth, as in overpopulation.
Next question?
The population density of NYC does not allow space for crops and pasture. Not even counting trees necessary for production of oxygen. Do you propose we kill all the forest animals? We’re already doing that by the way.
Next
Posted by: cloud | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 6:53 pm
“I think we need to put the old Texas population trick to rest now, don’t we?” —————— Oh brother. Sure – and the mathematical calulation of mph is a “trick” too…. Actually, the world’s population growth rate peaked in the 1960′s and has been in steady decline ever since. If it’s too crowded where you live – move. If you’ve ever flown over the US or Canada – we have lots and lots of vacant land… Some people love peole, some see people as pollution. I couldn’t handle that many, but to each his own – and Congrats to the family.
Posted by: Logicsgood5 | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 7:23 pm
“We now have immigrants drawing Social Security who have never paid into the system. Immigrants, as in population growth, as in overpopulation.” ————— NOT ENOUGH Payers = Overpopulation?? I don’t think so…..
“The population density of NYC does not allow space for crops and pasture.” ————— Obviously Cloud. It’s just a mathematical illustration… The area of Texas is approximately 270,000 sqare miles, while the area of habitable land on the planet is over 50,000,000 square miles. Probably could graze and pasture critters on some of the other 49.730,000 square miles…
Posted by: Logicsgood5 | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 7:46 pm
Yes, Logicsgood5, you’ve schooled me with your logic. Since I can fly over the US and see vacant land, then we need to keep pushing the population until that’s filled up too. After all, more people = good…and since you like people, then 8 billion would make you happier.. great.
Posted by: Stan | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 8:36 pm
I for one say to all those who think somoene else has too many in thier family, perhpas reflect in a mirror and think what if I was that one my family didin’t have? All the 1.5 children families jsut wnat more things, things that will rust and decay, people go on forever and they aren’t taking food away from anyone. If anything they are providing somone else to work to pay for your old age pensions!
Posted by: karen | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 8:47 pm
It is the nature of all life forms to ensure the survival of their species by population growth. Humans possess the intellect and ability to do this very successfully. What we do not have is the wisdom to recognize that all things should have limits.
We have not yet evolved past that basic need to propagate our species. We are yet to understand that this is the only planet we have and we have the ability to preserve it, or destroy it. We have yet to develop the ability to see beyond our own generation or perhaps the next. Maybe we just don’t care about 100 generations in the future.
People pollute, pure and simple. More people = more pollution. As human population increases pollution levels rise and resources are depleted. The horn of Africa is already populated beyond the ability of the land to support it. Even some states of the US are in litigation over water rights.
The worst is yet to come. Soon all the trees will be in tree museum. I’ll probably be dead before that happens so conventional wisdom says I shouldn’t care. I’ve never been very conventional.
Posted by: oonogil7 | December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011, 10:58 pm
This is nothing to celebrate. Their families have a complete disregard for over population, the source of every major problem on the planet. Over populating is NOT being fruitful!
Posted by: Amadeus | December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011, 10:37 am
@Stan – your comment “All the 1.5 children families jsut wnat more things … ” is just wrong. I have only one child – not by choice, but because of medical issues. I was BLESSED to have one, even though I want more. You are being judgmental when you use the word “All”. You might want to think about choosing your words more carefully next time. Sometimes there’s more to a story than meets the eyes.
Posted by: Caroline | December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011, 10:40 am
Yeah, “All the 1.5 children families jsut wnat more things” was posted by “Karen”, not me. Karen apparently thinks that things “rust and decay”, but that people will live on forever, even if we’re all jammed on the same planet. Apparently, she doesn’t realize yet that her old thought process is “rusted and decayed”.
Posted by: Stan | December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011, 11:40 am
Y’all make me sick! You can’t enjoy and be thankful for the blessing God has given of a new little life without thinking “what about the planet and over population, what about me?”
Posted by: Maria | December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011, 12:03 pm
Maria, we ARE thinking of you along with the next generation after we aren’t here anymore.
Posted by: Stan | December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011, 12:10 pm
Well, why can’t everyone stop worrying and be thankful for the life God gives us and trust Him
To take care of us. HE WILL provide what’s needed for us and the next generation, we just have to trust Him!
Posted by: Maria | December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011, 1:00 pm
It’s not the “next generation” that I’m concerned about. It’s 50 – 100 generations down the road. What will their world be like? I’m glad I’ll be long dead.
For those who think they need a dozen children to have enough love in their home I have but one word: Adoption. There are a lot of kids out there who need a good home.
Posted by: cloud | December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011, 1:45 pm
It is disturbing to see people celebrating irresponsible breeding.
Posted by: Slash | December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011, 3:22 pm
Cloud and oonogil7, you’ve got it right. People need to read Garrett Hardin’s Tragedy of the Commons and his other writings. He wrote about the potential impacts of uncontrolled populations/immigration, medical advances and limited resources forty years ago. I don’t have as much of a problem with people having more than two kids IF they can afford to provide for them and educate them. This world has more than enough uneducated inhabitants that will become takers vs. contributors. That said, 16 kids is ridiculous and selfish, as is the one son with nine children. Just how much individual attention is a kid going to get? And, Karen and Maria, we have two kids because that’s how many we can afford to send to college. We choose to be responsible parents, not materialistic hogs. Heck, someone’s going to have to pay for the kids of all the fools who have no business having children. Six kids who become minimum wage-earning adults aren’t going to solve any country’s budget problems or be able to help out anyone else. Also, I’m a Christian and I can’t imagine God’s too pleased with the selfish mess we’ve made of His creation. I, too, like to trust that God will provide; but I also think He expects us to respect and cherish His gifts. That whole free will thing and all . . .
Posted by: LagunaTriMom | December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011, 3:34 pm
Lagunatrimom- some people don’t choose how many kids they want. They accept how many ever children God chooses to give them and trust Him to take care of them. If you really trusted God, you wouldn’t be worrying about things such as, cost or the next generations. I’m one of those people who accepts how many ever children God wants me to have. Sometimes we wonder if we can afford the things we need, but God has always and will always provide!! And I would never trade any of my children for anything! They are all gifts that God has been so kind to bless me with!
Posted by: Maria | December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011, 11:15 pm
WOW 100 Grandkids!!! That is AWSOME!!!
As for the planet….its been here for a LONG time and will countue to
Be here. So shut up and just be happy for this family.
Posted by: 123ABC | January 2, 2012 January 2, 2012, 8:11 am
Hmm… I am one of the 100granchildren and sorry to break it to you we are not minumum wage earners! We are all educated and most are still in grade school but the parents trust in God who helps them and are able to afford a quality life. When I look around at the familys who dont have children (unless of course they cant have children) I see that our families are so much more blessed! I get way more attention from my parents than you think. was never hungry and always thankful to God! We dont take away from the society. We have never been left to beg and id say are quite far from that and of course we praise God for that!
Posted by: Numbernine | January 30, 2012 January 30, 2012, 5:49 pm