It’s a full house at the Raderchaks this Christmas

The Christmas holiday at Erik and Crissy Raderchak’s house will be especially joyful this year as the Strasburg couple celebrates with eight children, six who are adopted. The last adoption of sisters Erika, 14, and Morgan, 10, was completed in March 2023.

The family includes Audrey Hendershot, 20; Lucas Blankenship, 17; Harper, 5; Michael J., 6; Rooster, 5; Micah, 2; Erika, 14; and Morgan, 10, all Raderchaks. Edward (Rooster) came into the family in 2019 at age 13 months. He earned his nickname because as a baby he squawked like a rooster. Harper, Michael J. and Micah are biological brothers. Harper and Michael J. arrived in 2020, followed by Micah in 2021.

The four boys were adopted into the family in November 2022 and the two girls in March 2023. Crissy Raderchak said Lucas always wanted a brother, and now he has four and three sisters.

On Christmas Eve the children will receive pajamas. This year the pj’s have an animal theme based on their personalities. They each receive an ornament to place on a special tree and four gifts. The theme of the gifts are what they need, books to read, what they want and clothes to wear. On Christmas Day they spend time with their grandmother Carolyn Raderchak of Strasburg.

Five-year-old Rooster said he wants to make sure to mail a letter to Santa.

“We decided to become foster parents in 2019 through Pathway Caring for Children, located in Stark County,” Crissy Raderchak said. “We have fostered 12 children. Six remained with us and were adopted into our family, and six left. Of the six, two were reunited in their home, and four were placed in kinship, which is with a family member.”

She said when a call comes into their home that a child needs to be fostered, information about the child is usually not available. The couple still has a license to bring foster children into their home; however, they have taken a respite and currently are taking a break and concentrating on the family.

Crissy Raderchak said every time a foster child is moved into another home, it is traumatic for them. She said there are not enough homes or foster parents and homes.

“We are often called the clown house, instead of a clown car, because you never know how many children will come out the door,” she said.

“I am an only child,” Erik Raderchak said. “It is most rewarding to see the children change and grow, when I come home from work to hear the children screaming Dada.”

Crissy Raderchak, a registered nurse, decided to become a stay-at-home mom and serves as Strasburg Band Booster president. Erik Raderchak is employed at J and J Motors in Stark County.

Erik Raderchak said Crissy does all the scheduling of the family’s activities and he is amazed how she gets all of it done.

Rooster said his favorite meal is pizza and ice cream. However, Crissy Raderchak said they eat a lot of chicken, pasta, casseroles and pot roast. She said taco night is the children’s favorite.

Crissy Raderchak said the children fight like brothers and sisters; however, for the most part, they enjoy each other. She said they see each other as brothers and sisters, not as adopted siblings.

Audrey is employed at Progressive Foam in Beach City and is currently enrolled in fire training school. Lucas, a senior at Strasburg High, is taking classes at Aultman Hospital to become a nurse. He also participates in the speech and debate team at Strasburg.