A COUPLE have revealed that everyone thinks their family-of-12 is a cult.
Despite people’s judgements, Mitch, 62, and Chela, 40, who already have ten children, are eager to expand their family further.
The Australian couple, who met after Mitch was singing in a restaurant, dress themselves and their kids the same and are constantly stared at when they go out in public.
Not only do their family question their desire to want more children, but even doctors have asked about them being a cult too.
Opening up to Truly, on an episode of My Extraordinary Family, the parents-of-10, who are known online as ‘The Rodey Bunch’ shared all on what it’s like to have so many children.
When asked if they always wanted a big family, Mitch said: “I just went with the flow. Twins came first. And after that third, fourth, fifth, sixth. Just ball kept rolling, and I just kept on bowling.”
The couple are now parents to Orial and Chena, 16-year-old twins, Chelece, 15, Chala, 13, Orien, 12, Orisen, 10, Chanay, eight, Chalay, six, Chandelle, four, and Asrial, two.
The family colour co-ordinate every day, as one of the 10 kids expressed: “Colour co-ordinating is an every day thing for us.”
To this, another youngster chimed in: “We enjoy it.”
Mitch is also a fan of their matching clothes, as he beamed: “It just looked so good, you know? I mean, it’s like an entourage.
“Whenever we go to a shopping centre or something like that, everyone looks. It’s not that we want the attention, but that’s what happens.”
The couple share their family’s life on social media and despite receiving a lot of encouragement, they have also found themselves subject to relentless negativity.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Single Mum’s Mission to Pay Off Debt with TikTok” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6356713878112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]The mum-of-10 confessed: “The challenges with having a big family are probably more the outside people. You get treated differently. We get plenty of attention, too much I think.”
Mitch then chimed in: “Even the doctors, when you were having the last child, we were in the hospital, [and they asked] ‘Are you guys a cult?’”
The couple, who described their family as “live entertainment” and would like to have more children, spend $3,000-$4,000 [Australian dollars – £1,500-£2,000] a month on groceries and drive around in a huge 14-seater van.
Chela confessed: “Yes we would like to have more children. We’re definitely trying. We did try to have another one but that ended in a miscarriage”, to which Mitch added: “It’s just a matter of time.”
[quote credit=”Chela”]You get treated differently. We get plenty of attention, too much I think[/quote]But it appears that Chela’s mum Susi might not be as on board with the couple expanding their brood, as she called them “crazy” for wanting more kids, to which Chela replied: “Why not? The more the merrier.”
But shocked Susi snapped: “By the time that baby’s 20, you’re going to be an old man.”
Social media users react
YouTube users were left shocked by the couple’s large family and many eagerly flocked to the comments to share their thoughts.
One person said: “I wouldn’t call them a cult but I would call them a real world version of Cheaper by the Dozen.”
Another added: “They constantly look like they are going on a field trip dressing in the same colours.”
A third commented: “The matching outfits are cringy!”
Meanwhile, someone else wrote: “Amazing and special family.”
Whilst another chimed in: “They are happy, healthy, and managing fine. Looks like they have at least 4 responsible young women to help with the young ones. It’s fun that the kids choose to dress alike. Dude looks awesome for 62.”