When Jeni first met her husband Ray, she had one firm belief: she didn’t want children.
“Ray wanted at least four kids. I thought that was crazy. Who has that many children?” she recalled in an interview with Mamamia.
Three decades later, the couple from Toowoomba, Queensland, are the proud parents of 16 children – nine boys and seven girls – ranging in age from 10 to 35.
Running a household of 18 people (with eight kids still at home) takes military-style planning. The Bonells’ grocery bill alone is jaw-dropping: $600 a week, a figure that’s crept up by $50 with recent inflation.
Their weekly list looks more like a small supermarket delivery:
- 17 three-litre bottles of milk
- 14 boxes of cereal
- 45 tubs of yoghurt
- Four dozen eggs
“We go through 50 litres of milk every week and at least one or two loaves of bread every day,” Jeni explained.
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With kids at different schools, sports, part-time jobs, and studies, Jeni describes life as a “juggling act.”
“I used to think it was busy with little kids, but I’m busier now with older children,” she admitted.
Even family photos are a challenge. “You need an extra-wide lens. Someone’s always looking away, pulling a funny face, or blinking,” Jeni laughed. “But those quirks make the photos special.”
To make their money go further, Jeni whips up budget-friendly meals for $2–$10, often sharing her shopping tips and recipes with her 200k+ YouTube followers. Dinner is the one non-negotiable family ritual, whether eight or more than 20 gather around the table.
The Bonells also run a strict chore system. Once a child turns eight, they join the household roster, rotating through tasks like sweeping, mopping, setting the table, and helping with meal prep.
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“Our 12-year-old can cook a roast dinner for 20 with almost no supervision,” Jeni said proudly.
The laundry is another never-ending task: three full loads a day, the equivalent of six in an average home. Grocery shopping means filling up two trolleys every week, always with a helper in tow.
The Bonells, who are devout Christians, often face criticism for their large family, but Jeni insists faith alone wasn’t the reason for having 16 kids.
“God has a funny sense of humour,” she joked. “This life just feels right for us.”
Ray, who works as an electrician, added: “It’s not for everyone, but it works for us. We make time for each other, too. It’s important to look after your marriage.”
Now grandparents to two, their family continues to grow – and so does the love that binds them.
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From prepping school lunches the night before to teaching the kids to cook and clean early on, the Bonells have learned that organization is survival. But beneath the structure lies something deeper: teamwork, humour, and togetherness.
“Life is hectic – but it’s good,” Jeni said.
At the end of the day, the Bonells show that raising 16 kids isn’t about perfection, but about creating a home filled with memories, laughter, and love. And if there’s one lesson their story teaches, it’s this: family, no matter the size, is always worth it.
