A mom-of-seven has revealed how her family disapproves of her large brood while sharing the realities of parenting that include spending $2,500 a month on her kids.
Ashley Lillie, 30, and her 35-year-old husband, Chad, from Illinois, desperately tried to start a family for more than three years – but it wasn’t until May 2013 that they had their first child after undergoing fertility treatments.
The couple planned on trying for one more baby in a bid to complete their happy family before welcoming a daughter in April 2015.
And then, much to their surprise, Ashley fell pregnant again and again – transforming their once-small family into a large brood and becoming a home of nine.
Mom-of-seven Ashley Lillie, 30, has revealed she spends $2,500 per month on her large brood and has been told she’s a ‘bad mom’
But she doesn’t care what anybody thinks as she’s in ‘heaven’ and even hopes to have more children with husband Chad
Ashley fell pregnant again and again – transforming their once small family into a large brood and becoming a home of nine
Currently, the couple are parents to Nolan, nine, Gracilyn, eight, Paisley and Presley, six, Scarlett, five, Bennett, two, and Clara, five months – and splash out more than $2,500 per month on food and necessities alone.
‘I have an addiction to buying clothes and, besides food [for the kids], that’s been the most expensive part,’ the stay-at-home mom said.
Ashley explained that they were never expecting to have as many children as they have had.
‘Our family is just something that happened, as we didn’t know how many kids we wanted. My plan was only one more [after our second] and have three kids, but then the twins came,’ she said.
‘And honestly, after four, what’s one more? I was in heaven.’
And although she feels like she is overjoyed with her big family, her wallet is not quite as happy.
The mom-of-seven revealed that she and Chad don’t spend that much money, however, there are months that they go overboard.
‘I shop for them weekly, buying two to three outfits, and sometimes, I’ll hit up thrifting on top of that,’ she said.
The couple tried to start a family for more than three years – but it wasn’t until May 2013 that they had their first child after undergoing fertility treatments
The couple planned on trying for one more baby after this in a bid to complete their happy family, welcoming a daughter in April 2015
Ashley believes that many people think that more children equals more chaos – but the mom-of-seven said it gets ‘easier’ with each child
‘And then, twice a year we do large shops in March and August, spending around $1,000. The other months I’d estimate $300 [on clothes].
‘In March, I went slightly overboard and got into some higher quality expensive brands and probably spent close to $2,000.’
Ashley believes that many people think that more children equals more chaos – but the mom-of-seven said it gets ‘easier’ with each child.
‘With every baby, you realize what you wasted money on before, so you don’t buy it again,’ she said.
‘Babies are actually not expensive if you don’t make them – you could use cloth diapers, exclusively breastfeed, and make homemade wipes.
‘I always co-sleep and we usually have two or three kids in our bed at night. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I don’t have tiny feet in my back anymore.
‘Routine is also crucial to having your life together with a large family. When we get off routine, it’s chaos.’
Ashley explained that they were never expecting to have as many children as they had, noting that her and her beau never knew how many kids they wanted
The mom-of-seven revealed that she and Chad don’t spend that much money, however, there are months that they go overboard
While both of their respective families are very helpful with the kids, Ashley claims they haven’t been very accepting of their situation – and have asked them to ‘stop’ having children
While both of their respective families are very helpful with the kids, Ashley claims they haven’t been very accepting of their situation – and have asked them multiple times to ‘stop’ having children.
‘Our families aren’t very supportive about us wanting to have a large family, and they do adore the kids we have, but they wish we’d stop,’ she said.
‘We see both sides at a minimum of once a week, and they’re equally very helpful.
‘They will babysit when we need them or when we want a date night, with my in-laws buying snacks and a carton of formula every week.’
In a bid to share the trials and tribulations of being a family of nine, Ashley uploads regular videos on TikTok.
She captioned one viral clip: ‘The reality of having seven kids, an almost twenty-year-old vehicle, and a minimum of a one-hour round trip to get anywhere.’
In a bid to share the trials and tribulations of being a family of nine, Ashley uploads regular videos on TikTok
Despite receiving mixed messages online and from family, Ashley says she isn’t done having kids – and plans on making her brood an even number
She begins by revealing the back of her car, which is filled with food, and other discarded items.
Then, Ashley shows the car after a quick clean-up, where she filled two bin bags.
After vacuuming, shampooing and detailing all the windows, seats and panels, the vehicle looks good as new.
Users flocked to the comments to share their reactions, with many praising the mom for her hard work – but there were those who weren’t as kind.
‘That’s not the reality of having kids, that’s the reality of being a disgusting and irresponsible adult,’ one person said.
Someone else commented: ‘That’s a you problem not the kids.’
‘So you haven’t cleaned it in seven years. Well good for you doing it now good job mama,’ another wrote.
One comment read: ‘Hell yeah! As a mom of five I salute you. Look at what you achieved in a day. Be proud of yourself.’
Users flocked to the comments to share their reactions, with many praising the mom, while others weren’t as kind
‘Hold up. You found time to clean your vehicle at all with seven f***ing kids?! Ma’am. You are not human. You are a superhero,’ another user said.
Despite receiving mixed messages online and from family, Ashley says she isn’t done having kids – and plans on making her brood an even number.
‘I’ve always said [we will have] 12, so I could have a dozen, but we’ll probably be done after eight or 10 because of my health,’ she said.
‘My husband’s boss has eight kids, including twins like us, and his family has been the most supportive and accommodating people.
‘Pregnancies six and seven were rough and I was life-flighted several times, but his boss always gave him as much time as he needed off.
‘I love being a mother and our experience with each child was wonderful – pure bliss.’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk