The last pink ribbon in the Mameli Serra house was for Camilla. The baby is just nine days old. He doesn't know it yet but he's part of a big family. She is the fifth child of a very young couple: Marta Mameli, 28, originally from Jerzu and Giovanni Serra, 32, from Osini. The two young spouses have decided to put down roots in the small town in the Ogliastra area. Engaged since 2009, they got married last September. Their first four children also attended the wedding. Noemi is 11, Renato 9, Francesco 7 and Giada 6. Now, nine days ago, Camilla arrived to bring much more joy.
Countertrend
Population decline is now a worrying phenomenon. The story that comes from the small town in the Pardu Valley is definitely an exception. "For now we're fine like this - mother Marta smiles - then we'll see". Now with a baby in swaddling clothes they don't think about another birth but from the beginning the idea of having only one child hadn't even been taken into consideration. "We certainly hadn't planned to have five children - says the mother - but we knew that our first child would not remain an only child". Giovanni Serra has a butcher's shop and is also a farmer, Marta helps him for a few hours a day in the shop and often they all go to the countryside together. The days are full, there is so much to do but Marta doesn't get upset, positive and optimistic: «You just need to know how to organize yourself!». Foolproof method since everything in their life proceeds according to schedule. Noemi, Renato and Francesco travel every day by bus to Jerzu where they attend school. «The stop is close – says Marta – so they walk alone at eight. While I have another hour to finish preparing Giada and take her to kindergarten». Marta then goes to the butcher's and back home. The first three children return at two o'clock, lunch is ready, at 15.30 the child also returns from kindergarten. Space for homework, games and cleaning. The butcher shop closes at 8pm, we have dinner and then everyone goes to bed to rest for the next day.
The help
«Obviously we get tired every now and then - Marta points out - but we always manage to organize ourselves in the best possible way. My children are very cooperative, they also help each other with their homework». Marta and Giovanni can count on the support of their respective families but they themselves try to get by on their own. "In case of need, we always have someone who extends a hand - says Marta - when I have to pay a visit, for example, and I can't take my children with me, I can always find the availability of our family members". Living in a small village is an advantage over city life. «Certainly for a family like ours, staying in a small town is ideal – comments Marta – here the children can go out and play freely, go to school by themselves, things that in a big city they could hardly do independently, in a village reality you have much more tranquillity». Marta and Giovanni manage to meet every need. "The thing that worries me most for the future - concludes Marta - is the economic crisis, I want my children to always be well".
