I have 12 kids and trolls say I’m using them as a cash cow - but I don’t care!

“I spent so many years trying to justify having a large family because it goes against the ‘norms' of society,” Zoe hits back at haters of her huge household.

Zoe has spent nearly half of her life pregnant. 

At 44, she is the mother of 12 kids, aged between one and 18 years old. 

Sharing her daily life as a mum-of-12 on social media, the British mum often showcases the ups and downs of her “large family life”. 

And while she loves every second of it, she admitted that it had caused a bit of backlash from outsiders. 

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Zoe has spent nearly half her life pregnant. Source: Instagram/@our_sullivan_family_life

Mum-of-12 spent years “justifying” why she had such a large family

With nine girls and three boys: Elizabeth - 18, Olivia - 16, twins Isabelle and Charlotte - 15, Noah - 13, Evangaline - 11, Tobias - 10, twins Leah and Erin - seven, Agnes - five, Joseph - four, and Florence, one. 

At home in Scotland, her husband, Ben, works every day while she spends her time caring for the large family. 

While she uploads regular photos and videos of her growing crew, she often catches herself rationalising why she decided to have so many kids. 

“I spent so many years trying to justify having a large family,” she said in an Instagram post. She confessed that she has “almost” apologised for having such a huge household “because it goes against the ‘norms’ of society!” 

But this no longer worries her. “The truth is,” she continued, “I’ve never liked being ‘normal’ anyway!” 

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Zoe shares the daily life of her enormous household. Source: Instagram/@our_sullivan_family_life

“I’ve never got to a point where I’ve gone, ‘Actually, I won’t have any more [kids]’”

According to the mum, the family dishes out £200 (AUD$376) per week on food, and their Christmas meals are already organised by May each year. 

She admits that living in a 14-person household does have its moments, but she wouldn’t change a thing. 

“I’ve never got to a point where I’ve gone, ‘Actually, I won’t have any more [kids]’,” she said as per The Sun. 

“I think that part of me is broken. Each pregnancy has been a really special time, not just for me but for everybody.” 

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Zoe wouldn't change a thing about her family-of-14. Source: Instagram/@our_sullivan_family_life

Trolls accuse parents of treating kids like “cash cows”

Social media followers are also quick to judge the parents for having so many kids and accuse them of treating their children like “cash cows”. 

“Some people do judge us for having 12 children, but it’s their opinion,” she confessed. 

Others criticise the kids’ weight and accuse the parents of starving their children. 

“We provide for them financially, mentally, physically… we provide everything they need,” she clarified. 

“Don’t ever question our loyalty to our children, and don’t ever question that we don’t have their best interests at heart with every single thing that we do!” she said on Instagram. 

“Our whole lives revolve around doing better for them,” she added. “...we may not be where we want to be just yet, but we work hard every single day to try and get there.”

Originally published as I have 12 kids and trolls say I’m using them as a cash cow - but I don’t care!