We’ve got 18 kids – people judge us for overpopulating the world and they cost a fortune but we love our big family
PARENTS who have eighteen children between them have opened up about the abuse they’ve faced for their choice to have a big, blended family.
Desiree and Christopher from the US had three and eight kids respectively when they met, and have since gone on to welcome another seven to their brood.
In a new interview with Truly, the couple, who got married 28 days after they met in person, said: “We have eighteen children, I don’t know when we’ve ever had the house alone to ourselves – I don’t think we ever have.”
However, Desiree and her husband have been on the receiving end of cruel comments about their children, who range from older teens to tiny babies.
She revealed: “People are upset that we’re having more children and overpopulating the world.”
“That’s kind of like, ‘hang on a minute – we’re not raising people with entitlement issues, we’re raising people who are going to put into society and into the world.’
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Christopher continued: “There’s a huge misconception. I think that they believe it’s chaos.
“When they see a big family, they think, ‘oh my God, that must be chaotic, that must be so much work.’
“It is work, obviously, but I think any family is work so it’s a matter of where you put that work in and how efficient that machine runs.”
Despite the negative comments, Desiree and Christopher – who need several large SUVs to transport everyone around – wouldn’t change their setup for the world.
People are upset that we’re having more children and overpopulating the world
Desiree
Speaking about their hectic family life, the mum said: “A typical day for us is pretty much go-time – I put the laundry in and then I make breakfast, and while I’m doing that, I’m going to pop in the shower.
“Then I’m going to make lunch and clean up. I have to have a lot of things in order.
“I think the difficulties for me are keeping things clean and organised and everybody else on track.
Mealtimes also presents its own set of challenges, as Desiree said: “When I cook for the children it usually takes me anywhere between 1-3 hours, depending on what I’m making for the day.”
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Their large family also costs them an absolute fortune. Desiree explained: “I spend between $250 – $500 every shopping trip. Usually I go once a week, if not more.”
And that’s before you add any big occasions – like birthdays and Christmas – into the equation.
As Christopher confessed they spend an eye-watering $10k each December, Desiree continued: “Christmas is fun – but it’s work.”
As far as a team goes – we make a great baseball team!
Christopher
But they say it’s all part of the fun of their unique family – something they say they were destined to have.
Desiree concluded: “We actually had conversations prior to getting married and I kind of laid out some things and said I still wanted to have a big family.
“It wasn’t intimidating – it seemed like my whole life, my whole childhood, I was preparing to be all of their mums.
“What I love most about raising a huge family is really the end goal – we’re raising people.”
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Christopher added: “Our hope is that we’re raising world changers.
“People that are going to come in and show the same grace and mercy we were raised with and make the world a better place.
“And as far as a team goes – we make a great baseball team!”