Courtney Rogers had her first child 2 years after she was married and now has 11 children. Most people would consider that a ‘win’ and call it a day, but not Courtney. She wants at least 14 before she will consider calling it quits. Church pastor Chris Rogers, 32, and his wife Courtney, 36, have been married for 10 years. What’s more, is that they have 11 children together so far. They were set up by mutual friends and hit it off. After they were married, it was only 2 years before they had their first child. Since then, Courtney has blessed their home with a new baby every year. [1]
Never a Dull Moment in This Home
The Rogers family currently reside on a 12-acre farm in New Mexico. It Is probably just big enough for their ever-expanding family. Of the 11 children, they have six boys, and five girls, and everyone in the family has a name beginning with C. Clint, Clay, Cade, Callie, Cash, twins Colt and Case, Calena, Caydie, Coralee, and Caris.
Caris is the family’s most recent addition, and her entrance into this world was a terrifying ordeal for Courtney and the Rogers family. On November 28 of last year, Courtney needed an emergency C-section. Doctors noticed her baby was not receiving enough oxygen and was showing signs of distress.
“I was more scared for Caris than for any of her brothers and sisters.“
Courtney Rogers
After a successful C-section, Caris was delivered as the biggest Rogers baby, weighing in at 9lb 3oz. She spent 15 days in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). She then joined her happy family, which might be getting another member fairly soon.
Read: Why Raising Kids Without Extended Family Nearby Sucks
Daily Life with a Family of 11 Children
While most families don’t have excessive food costs, they also don’t have 11 children. The Rogers average around $1,200 per month on food for their kids alone. They don’t seem to mind, though, according to Courtney, the more, the merrier.[1]
“We want to have 12 children, a family of 14 even, My husband is the eldest of 10, so before we got married, he joked about having as many children as his mom had.”
Courtney Rogers
If you’re wondering how the family keeps everything under control, they say homeschooling and having a large farm is a big part of it. According to Courtney, homeschooling makes it easy for all school lessons to be adapted, which also comes with a break where the children run around and feed the two bottle-fed lambs, dogs, and chickens on their farm. As an extra family treat, since the parents don’t spend money on Christmas presents for themselves, they take a yearly week-long camping trip with their 11 children. Allowing them to spend time with relatives across the country. [2]
Along with not getting Christmas presents, Chris and Courtney had to stop any extra expenditures like going out to eat or buying anything they knew they didn’t truly need. Their children wear hand-me-down clothes and appear to be as happy as any other family decked out in designer labels. It’s not all about money for this family; it’s about togetherness.
Public Backlash Because of her 11 Children
Courtney and Chris have both been publicly lambasted for having 11 children. Outcries of not giving them enough attention or dedicate enough time to them upset Courtney, and understandably so.[2]
“The people who ask how I can give all my kids enough attention are usually those who send their kids off to school. I do not understand their logic when I am around my kids 24 hours a day. They don’t know how much income we have, or that I’ve never sent the kids to daycare or school.”
Courtney Rogers
Chris and Courtney are both exceptionally happy with their family of 11 children, their farm, and their 15-seater transport van. In fact, they wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. Courtney mentions: “Ever since I became a mother, it’s just become my life and I enjoy it and love every minute.”
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Sources
- “Mum who had 10 children in 10 years won’t stop until she has a family of 14.” Metro. October 6, 2020
- “Mother who’s given birth to ELEVEN children in 10 years says she’s already planning her 12th child.” Daily Mail. January 27, 2021