When Jeni first met her husband, Ray, one thing was certain—she had absolutely no plans to have children.
Ray, on the other hand, always envisioned having at least four kids. To Jeni, that seemed completely unreasonable. “I thought it was crazy. Who has that many kids?” she recalled in an interview with Mamamia.
Fast forward over three decades, and the couple is now the proud parents of sixteen children.
A $600 Weekly Grocery BillIf you’re from Australia, you might have already heard of the Bonell family. But for those who haven’t, their story is truly astonishing.
Raising sixteen children in Australia is no small feat, and the Bonells’ daily life is anything but ordinary. Living in Toowoomba, Queensland, Jeni and Ray have mastered the art of managing a household filled with kids, chaos, and love—always with a touch of humor.
Their incredible family consists of 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). That’s nine boys and seven girls under one roof.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan once joked that having a fourth child is like drowning and someone handing you a baby. If that’s the case, what’s it like to have sixteen?
For Jeni, keeping the household running smoothly means sticking to a strict grocery budget—one that currently sits at $600 per week. Thanks to inflation, that amount recently increased by $50. Feeding a family of eighteen, including eight children who still live at home, requires meticulous planning.
The grocery list itself is jaw-dropping: four dozen eggs, fifteen boxes of cereal, forty-five tubs of yogurt, and seventeen three-liter bottles of milk.
“We go through one to two loaves of bread per day and consume about fifty liters of milk each week,” Jeni explains.
The Challenge of a Family PhotoFor most families, taking a decent group photo is challenging. For the Bonells, it’s nearly impossible.
“There’s always someone blinking, making a funny face, or looking the other way,” Jeni laughs. “You need an extra-wide lens just to fit everyone in. But we love the quirky imperfections in our pictures—they make them more special.”
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Beyond capturing memories, their biggest challenge is simply keeping up with the pace of daily life. With sixteen kids, every day is a whirlwind.
Jeni reflects on how her perception of being busy has changed over time. “I used to think having little ones kept me on my toes, but having teenagers and young adults is a whole different level of busy. Managing three different schools, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activities is a balancing act. But despite the chaos, I wouldn’t change a thing. Life is hectic, but it’s good.”
Mastering Meal Planning and BudgetingSome evenings, everything runs like clockwork. Other nights, it’s absolute chaos. But one thing remains constant—family dinner.
“Dinner is a big deal in our house,” Jeni shares. “Some nights, we have eight people at the table, other nights, it’s over twenty!”
To make their budget stretch, Jeni has perfected the art of frugal meal prep. She frequently shares cost-saving grocery hauls and budget-friendly recipes on YouTube, helping other families navigate rising food prices.
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“Everyone is feeling the financial strain right now. We all have to be mindful of our spending,” she says.
Household chores are also a well-organized affair. Jeni has implemented a chore chart, ensuring that every child, starting at age eight, contributes to maintaining the home.
“Even our twelve-year-old can cook a full roast dinner for twenty people without much help,” she says proudly.
Laundry is another mammoth task. Jeni washes three full loads every single day—that’s about six loads for an average-sized family. Grocery shopping is no small job either; she fills two carts weekly. “I always need one of the kids to help carry everything,” she adds.
The Bonells’ Faith and Financial StrategyWhile their strong Christian faith plays a central role in their lives, Jeni insists their decision to have a large family wasn’t solely based on religion.
“God has a great sense of humor,” she jokes.
Despite financial challenges, they manage their budget carefully. Though their home mortgage is settled, raising sixteen children still requires sacrifices.
“It’s expensive, and we’ve had to make a lot of adjustments,” Jeni admits. “But we don’t rely on government assistance—everyone contributes. Even so, people criticize us for having a big family.”
Ray, who works as an electrician, adds, “This life isn’t for everyone, but for us, it feels right.”
Finding Time for ThemselvesAmid their busy schedules, Jeni and Ray still prioritize their relationship.
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“Do we get alone time? Of course,” Ray grins. “We make sure to carve out moments for each other. Taking care of our relationship is just as important as taking care of the kids.”
As they transition into becoming grandparents, their family continues to evolve. Two of their eldest children are now married with kids of their own, making family gatherings even livelier.
The Organized Chaos of the Bonell HouseholdIn a household of this size, organization is key. The Bonells operate on a strict system to ensure everything runs smoothly, from school prep to daily chores.
“Once a child turns eight, they join the household roster,” Jeni explains. “They take turns helping with cooking, sweeping, mopping, and setting the table.”
Jeni loves sharing her favorite family-friendly recipes, like air fryer pizza bites and egg cups, which are easy to make, great for school lunches, and freezer-friendly.
For the Bonells, teamwork is everything. Everyone pitches in, making sure the house runs as efficiently as possible. And through it all, love and laughter remain at the heart of their home.
A Life Filled with LoveAt the end of the day, the Bonell family proves that with a bit of creativity, strategic planning, and a lot of love, anything is possible.
Raising sixteen children isn’t easy, but Jeni and Ray embrace the adventure wholeheartedly. Whether it’s stretching a dollar, tackling never-ending laundry, or simply cherishing the chaos of family life, they manage it all with a smile.
Their journey is a testament to the power of family, resilience, and joy. Because in the Bonell household, no matter how big the family grows, there’s always room for more love.