Ah, the dream of many: to have children, a big family full of love and life. For some, it’s a quiet dream with one or two children, but for others, like Jen and Ray Bonell, it’s a real family marathon!
When Jen met Ray, she didn’t see herself as a mother. He had other plans in mind. But Ray, with his persuasion, had the last word. Today, the couple is the parents of 16 children. Yes, you read that right, sixteen children!
Picture the scene: a big house with nine boys and seven girls running around. The Bonells are Jesse, Brooke, Claire, Natalie, Karl, Samuel, Cameron, Sabrina, Tim, Brandon, Eve, Nate, Rachel, Eric, Damian and Katelyn.
Does it still stay in place? Remembering names, birthdays, habits… it’s a daily challenge. But for Ray and Jen, it’s the norm. Since the birth of their first children, they have continued to grow and continue to dream of an even bigger family.
Raising 16 children must be a whirlwind! Jen admits that it is complex to manage, but she never gets bored. Every day is unique, full of new adventures and challenges.
“It’s fun. For a family this size, you have to make a lot of sacrifices, but for us, that’s a good thing. For many others, that might not be the case.
But we invest 100% in our children’s education and our family life, so it’s perfect for us.
The photos of this happy family are proof of that, and we wonder if more little Bonells will soon come to brighten up their already busy lives even more.