Please leave a warm hello to our beautiful new Large Family of the Week – the Sheers from Kent!
Introduce us to your family (names and ages & tell us a bit about yourselves):
I am Sarah, mum and (I like to think) head of the household!! I am on maternity leave right now, when I am at work I am a Senior Community Care Worker and work pretty much full time. As well as working, I am taxi to the kids who have various activities and clubs, cook, cleaner, nurse(to the kids) etc etc.
I am married to Marc, we have been together 16 years. He works more than full time, 6 days on 3 days off 12 hour shifts!! We are like passing ships most of the time!!
Emily is our eldest, she is 12 nearly 13. She is doing really well at school and has already decided she wants to be a nurse. She also loves to dance, sing and act so every Friday we drive to Welling so she can attend The Gillham School of Performing Arts. It’s a long way to go but she loves it, she performs in theatre twice a year so we all go along and watch.
Jake is next, he’s 11 nearly 12. He is also doing really well at school, he made it into the grammar stream and higher achievers, very proud. He’s a keen rugby player too and plays for Medway Rugby Football Club, he trains on Wednesday nights and plays matches on Sunday mornings. The matches are all over the place, medway, Dartford, Beckenham!!
Sophie is 3 going on 13!! She goes to full time nursery and loves it. She is a dedicated Peppa Pig fan and anything pink and sparkly!!
Ben is our latest addition, he is 10 weeks old today(12th march). He’s a very content baby, hardly makes a noise.
Do you consider your family to be large? If not, what do you think is the magic number which turns an average sized family into a large one?
I didn’t consider us to be a large family until someone asked how we cope with so many children!! I hadn’t really thought about it.
Did you ever think you would have a large family?
I always said I’d like 6 children, I don’t think my husband ever really gave it much thought or had that ideal number.
What is your best moneysaving tip?
Meal planning is money saving, buying only what you need for the planned meals(I don’t always manage it!) Packed lunches for the kids, school canteen is hugely expensive. We have found that food prices have risen so much that we now HAVE to look for the deals etc.
What is your best tip for organisation?
Get ready the night before!! Bags need to be packed for school, rugby etc the night before. I can’t cope with running about like a mad thing trying to leave on time!!
Also, routine is key.
What is your favourite recipe?
Spag bol and shepherd pie!! I can make them in advance to save time.
Do you cook the same meal for everyone or cater for different tastes?
We all eat the same!! I can’t be cooking separate meals, maybe this is why we don’t have fussy eaters?
What is the best thing about having a large family?
Knowing that we all look after each other and the kids always have a sibling to turn to.
And what is the most difficult?
Giving them what they want when they want it whether its time, money, latest toy etc.
If you could offer one piece of advice to parents, what would it be?
Be as relaxed as you can. Highly strung parents make for highly strung children!! Shouting and screaming gets us no where.
Don’t you have a television?
What’s that? Don’t have time to watch it!
Do you know what causes it?
Haven’t worked it out yet!!
And finally, will you have any more children?!
I always wanted 6, don’t think the husband would agree though….
If you would like your to see your family featured as our Large Family of the Week email family@largerfamilylife.com with ‘Large Family of the Week’ in the subject line. Click here to find out more.
