Jeni knew she didn’t want children when she first met her husband, Ray. “Ray wanted at least four children. I felt that was insane. Like, who has that many children?” Jeni informed Mamamia. Over three decades later, they are proud parents to 16 children.
They spend $600 per week for food. If you’re from Australia, you’ve probably heard of them, but I was taken aback when I first learned about the Bonell family.
The Bonell family, raising 16 children in Australia, leads a life that is far from ordinary. Jeni and Ray Bonell have perfected the skill of balancing everything, from feeding their huge family to orchestrating the bustle of everyday life, and they do so with a healthy dose of humor.
The Bonell family of Toowoomba, Queensland, consists 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.
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Comedian Jim Gaffigan humorously stated, “You know what it’s like to have a fourth child? Imagine you’re drowning and someone hands you a baby.” So, what is it like to have sixteen children? Jeni, the mother at the helm, spends a whopping $600 a week on food simply to keep their pantry full. With inflation hitting hard, that budget has increased by $50. It costs a lot to feed an 18-person household (including 8 children who still live at home).
The weekly shopping list is nothing short of remarkable. 17 three-liter bottles of milk, 14 boxes of cereal, 45 tubs of yogurt, and a staggering four dozen eggs. “We go through 50 liters of milk each week and one to two loaves of bread every day,” Jeni shares.
Taking a decent family photograph is challenging. It’s a logistical headache for anyone, but the Bonells accept it as part of their daily routine. The Bonells’ home life is a well-planned routine.
“Getting a good family photo is difficult,” Jeni admits, laughing. “You need an extra-wide lens, because there’s always someone looking away, making a goofy expression, or keeping their eyes closed. But we like the minor oddities in the photographs. They’re not picture-perfect, but that’s part of the appeal.”
With 16 children, it’s more than simply capturing pictures; it’s about keeping up with the chaos of daily life.
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Consider having 16 children, a full-time career, part-time employment, and a household to maintain. This is Jeni and Ray’s reality.
“I used to think life was busy with little kids,” Jeni asserts, “but I’m certainly busier these days with older children.” It’s difficult to balance three separate schools, sports activities, part-time jobs, and the elder children’s academics. However, Jeni wouldn’t have it any other way. “Life is very hectic—but it’s good.”
Stretching every dollar.
Some nights are complete mayhem; other nights, everything runs well. But, regardless of how the evening develops, one thing is constant: suppertime. “Dinner is always great,” Jeni says. “Some nights we have eight people at the table; other nights we have more than 20!”
The Bonells are experts at stretching every dollar. Jeni is well-known for her affordable dinners, which range between $2 and $10. She frequently posts videos about her grocery excursions on YouTube to assist others in managing their food bills.
“It’s a struggle for everyone at the moment,” Jeni adds. “We’re all feeling that pinch with the budget.” Jeni uses a chore chart to split family tasks and ensures that everyone over the age of eight participates. Children are also taught to cook from an early age. “Our 12-year-old can put on a roast dinner for 20 people with almost no supervision,” Jeni adds proudly.
The washing burden in a house like theirs is equally massive. Jeni does three full loads of laundry every day, which equates to around six average-size loads. Jeni fills up two carts with groceries every week. “I always need one of the kids to help with the load,” she tells me.
The Bonell Family Religion
The Bonells have learned to make financial compromises. Financial difficulties persist even after they pay off their house mortgage. “It’s expensive, and you definitely have to make sacrifices with your budget,” Jeni tells me. “But we all work, and our family doesn’t rely on the taxpayer. However, we receive a lot of criticism for having so many children.”
Although the Bonells are profoundly devout and attend church on a daily basis, Jeni argues that their giant family is due to more than just their strong religion.
The nighttime ritual at their house perfectly reflects the Bonell family dynamic. “Our evening routine is like an average-sized family multiplied by eight,” Jeni tells me.
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“God has a funny sense of humor,” Jeni remarks. They have no regrets, however. “It just feels right for us,” Ray, an electrician, adds. “Having 16 kids isn’t for everyone, but it works for us.”
Despite their busy schedules, Jeni and Ray make time for themselves. “Do I have alone time with my wife?” Of course I do. “We make time for each other,” Ray says, smiling. “It’s important to look after each other.”
Jeni and Ray’s two oldest children have left home and married, adding to the family dynamic as they become grandparents to two grandkids. It demonstrates the Bonell family’s continued expansion. However, with each addition, the love, laughter, and feeling of community grow deeper. Inside their roster system. In a household where structure is essential, the Bonells have established a steady routine. From preparing school uniforms and lunches the night before to establishing a chore rotation system, the Bonells make it work.
“We have a roster system, so when a kid turns eight, they get put on the roster,” Jeni reports. “They rotate through chores like sweeping, mopping the floor, packing up the table, and helping with meal prep.”
Jeni has a few favorite treats that she shares with her YouTube admirers, such as air fryer egg cups and air fryer pizza pieces. Both snacks are easy to make, freeze well, and are ideal for school lunches.
The Bonells are focused on developing a system that allows everyone to pitch in and participate. Despite the stress of maintaining a home of 16, it is evident that the Bonell family thrives on love, collaboration, and laughter. Whether it’s feeding the kids, running a home, or finding time for a short coffee date, the Bonells make it all happen—and they do so with a grin.
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At the end of the day, the Bonell family demonstrates that with a little imagination, a lot of organization, and plenty of love, you can make almost anything work. Raising 16 children is not easy, but Jeni and Ray consider it all part of the experience.
Whether it’s providing suggestions on how to feed a crowd on a budget, keeping up with the never-ending laundry, or simply enjoying the craziness of family life, the Bonells know how to do it. Throughout it all, they are establishing a home filled with memories, laughter, and boundless love. This shows that family is always worth it, no matter how big.