When Jeni first met her husband Ray, she was certain of one thing — she never wanted children.
“Ray wanted at least four kids. I thought that was crazy. Like, who has that many children?” Jeni told Mamamia.
Now, over three decades later, they are the proud parents of 16 children.
$600 every week on groceries
If you’re from Australia, you might have heard of them, but for me, it was a real shock when I first started reading about The Bonell Family.
Life for the Bonell family, who are raising 16 kids in Australia, is anything but ordinary. From feeding their large brood to coordinating the chaos of daily life, Jeni and Ray Bonell have mastered the art of juggling it all — and with a healthy dose of humor, too.
The Bonell family, from Queensland’s Toowoomba, is made up of nine boys and seven girls – Jesse, 35, Brooke, 34, Claire, 31, Natalie, 30, Karl, 28, Samuel, 26, Cameron, 25, Sabrina, 24, Tim, 22, Brandon, 20, Eve, 19, Nate, 17, Rachel, 16, Eric, 15, Damian, 14 and Katelyn, 10.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan once joked, “You know what it’s like having a fourth kid? Imagine you’re drowning, then someone hands you a baby.” So what’s it like to have sixteen kids?
Jeni, the mother at the helm, spends a staggering $600 every week on groceries just to keep their pantry stocked. With inflation hitting hard, that budget has crept up by $50. For a family of 18 (with 8 kids still living at home), it takes a lot to keep everyone well-fed.
The weekly grocery list is nothing short of impressive: 17 three-litre bottles of milk, 14 boxes of cereal, 45 tubs of yogurt, and a whopping four dozen eggs.
“We go through 50 litres of milk each week and one to two loaves of bread every day,” says Jeni.
Getting a good family photo is difficult
It’s a logistical nightmare for anyone, but for the Bonells, it’s all part of the rhythm of life. The Bonell family’s home life is a carefully choreographed routine.
“Getting a good family photo is difficult,” says Jeni, laughing. “You need an extra-wide lens, and there’s always someone looking away, pulling a funny face, or with their eyes closed. But we enjoy those little quirks in the photos. They’re not picture perfect, but that’s part of the fun.”
With 16 kids, it’s not just about taking photos — it’s about keeping up with the whirlwind of daily life.
Imagine having 16 kids, a full-time job, part-time jobs, and a household to run. That’s the reality for Jeni and Ray.
“I used to think life was busy with little kids,” says Jeni, “but I’m certainly busier these days with older children.” Between coordinating three different schools, sporting activities, part-time jobs, and the older kids’ studies, it’s a juggling act. And yet, Jeni wouldn’t have it any other way. “Life is very hectic – but it’s good.”
The evening routine in their home is a perfect reflection of the Bonell family dynamic. “Take an average-sized family and multiply it by eight, and that’s what our evening routine is like,” Jeni laughs.
Stretching every dollar
Some nights it’s total chaos; other nights, everything falls into place like a well-oiled machine. But regardless of how the evening unfolds, one thing is always consistent: dinner time. “Dinner is always great,” Jeni explains. “Some nights we have eight people at the table, other nights we have more than 20!”
The Bonells are pros at stretching every dollar. Jeni is known for her budget-friendly meals that cost between $2 and $10. She often shares her grocery trips on YouTube to help others manage their food costs.
“It’s a struggle for everyone at the moment,” says Jeni, “We’re all feeling that pinch with the budget.” To stay organized, Jeni uses a chore chart to divide household responsibilities, making sure everyone from age eight upwards pitches in. The kids are also taught to cook from a young age. “Our 12-year-old can put a roast dinner on for 20 people with almost no supervision,” Jeni says with pride.
The laundry load in a house like theirs is equally immense. Jeni does three full loads of laundry every day, which amounts to about six average-sized loads. And when it comes to grocery shopping, Jeni fills up two trolleys each week. “I always need one of the kids to help with the load,” she says.
The Bonell Family religion
When it comes to their finances, the Bonells have learned to make sacrifices. While they pay off their home mortgage, the financial pressures are still real. “It’s expensive and you definitely have to make sacrifices with your budget,” says Jeni. “But we all work, and our family doesn’t live off the taxpayer. However, we do get a lot of criticism for having so many kids.”
Although the Bonells are deeply religious and regularly attend church, Jeni insists that their large family isn’t solely the result of their strong faith.