The bakery shop's Oksana Maltseva finds joy in her work and raises five children.

      May Day is a holiday for those who are not afraid of work. The heroine of our article is a mother of five children, a baker, and simply a happy person. This store always has a special smell. It smells like childhood: fresh bread, buttery croissants, and vanilla. This is the little edible kingdom of Oksana Maltseva. Exactly at 7:30, she is already on site. The baker's tools are simple: a huge oven, a freezer with supplies, a glass display case, and a mountain of baking trays in a stainless steel sink. She lays out the trays for defrosting, then sends them to the oven. The main thing is to control the process so that the baked goods turn out fragrant and golden. During her shift, dozens of loaves, crispy baguettes, and tender croissants pass through Oksana's hands. "In modern retail, you have to be a jack-of-all-trades," she smiles. "You have to know how to do everything." And indeed: 12 hours on her feet. While the pastries are browning, she runs to the sales floor—to display fresh pastries, check expiration dates, cover for a colleague at the cash register, stock shelves, and also participate in the store's social projects. "Very hardworking, responsive, kind. She always lends a shoulder, helps her colleagues. A valuable employee, a master of her craft. Whatever you ask her to do, she does it responsibly," her coworkers say about Oksana. Colleagues know her as a reliable friend. Customers know her as the woman who smiles at a tired mom with a stroller and patiently tells a grandmother where the discount is today. But few realize that this 42-year-old woman in a uniform apron is a mother of five children. The oldest, Artyom, is already 23. The twins, Varvara and Darya, are 17. Zhanna is 12, and the youngest, Sergey, will turn 7 on May 9. She started dating her future husband at 13, and they have known each other for almost 30 years. Her main love after family is cakes. The first one, "Zebra," she baked using her grandmother's recipe. Oksana's grandmother, Taisia Karpova, was a well-known person in the city: a teacher and local historian. It was in her kitchen that her granddaughter first understood that flour and patience can work wonders. Then she conjured up her first culinary masterpieces with her friends. "I bake—and forget everything. It brings me joy," Oksana admits. She has an economic education from KFU. By her diploma, she could have been sitting with numbers and reports, but she chose flour, butter, and the smell of cinnamon. Oksana also loves to pick berries and mushrooms. But her main antidepressant is dough. "I am happy," she says simply.

      Photo by the author

      Roza Ilaltdinova

      More news about the event:

      Baker Oksana Maltseva finds joy in her work and raises five children. May Day is a holiday for those who are not afraid of work. The heroine of our article is a mother of five children, a baker, and simply a happy person. This store always has a special smell. 09:08 04.05.2026 Zainsk-Inform - Zainsk

      Baker Oksana Maltseva finds joy in her work and raises five children. May Day is a holiday for those who are not afraid of work. The heroine of our article is a mother of five children, a baker, and simply a happy person. This store always has a special smell. 08:51 04.05.2026 News of Zainsk - Zainsk