In Spain, where the birth rate has been at historic lows for years and the average number of children per woman is around 1.1 according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), having a very large family has become unusual. However, there are still homes where the number of children far exceeds the national average.
This is the case of Javier and Belén, a couple from Granada who have 15 children, ranging in age from 20 years old to just 1 year old. In total, 17 people live under the same roof. The family was the protagonist of a report broadcast by Canal Sur on its YouTube channel, where they show what their daily routine is like and how they manage to organize themselves to run a house with so many members.
A daily organization where everyone helps
In such a large family, everyone’s collaboration is essential. Older children actively participate in household chores, especially in the kitchen, which is one of the key moments of the day.
One of the elders explains how they organize themselves to prepare food: “We think about food every day in the morning. We go shopping and around 1 o’clock we start making the food so that it is ready when the rest of the school arrives from work.”
His sister adds that afterwards you also have to take care of cleaning up. “But I generally do the cooking, I sort of clean up the kitchen after eating,” he explains about his tasks at home.
Little ones also have responsibilities adapted to their age. Santiago, 10 years old, explains what his role is when it’s time to eat: “The napkin, the water and the glasses are for me.”
José, 6 years old, also knows what he has to do, which is nothing other than “clearing the table.”
Even the teenagers have organized shifts to help. One of the daughters explains that the distribution is planned: “We have the children divided into the kitchen in shifts and it’s my turn on Monday and Friday.”
Studies, games and sports after eating
Once the family meal is over, the house continues with its usual rhythm. Between homework, activities and leisure time, each child follows their own routine.
“After eating, everyone does their work and the little ones who don’t have to do anything may start playing or studying and then those who have sports may go to train,” describes Ester, one of the daughters.
Organization is key to making everything work in a house with so many different schedules and routines. And what’s more, the rhythm of the youngest has nothing to do with that of the elderly, who obviously have a busier life full of tasks, as Ester explains well.
“Eating together is the basis of our family”
For Javier and Belén, raising 15 children involves effort, but also a lot of satisfaction that comes from spending time together and appreciating each other’s qualities. Let’s say that each one contributes their own thing to the family as a whole.
“A family with two has an effort, because when there are 15 they also have their own thing, but then they also have good moments of joy, of happiness, each one surprises you because each one has different abilities. It’s quite an adventure,” admits Javier.
However, if there is something that they consider essential to maintain family unity, it is a very specific habit: sharing the table every day.
Belén explains that this moment is the heart of their coexistence: “Above all, we have as our main basis eating together every day and there each one comes with his problems, his difficulties, his successes, his day to day life and that is where above all we become a family.”
In a house where 17 people live, routines and organization are essential. But, as Javier and Belén show, it is also important to find a daily moment to sit together and share everything that happens outside the home.