Ben Sullivan, 51, and his wife Zoe, 48, from Burghead, Moray, are parents to 12 children, ranging in age from 4 to 21. Their family includes one set of twins, and four of their children share a birthday.

Since 2018, the Sullivans have filmed videos of their daily activities, including cooking, laundry, and school runs, for YouTube, garnering nearly 15 million views. Following appearances on major television networks such as Channel 5, ITV, and BBC, Ben Sullivan left his position in the Royal Air Force (RAF) to join his wife in full-time digital content creation.

This work now serves as their primary income, supporting their family and allowing them to homeschool their younger children.

Ben and Zoe's large family. *Mamalovescoffe*

Their newfound popularity has also attracted criticism. Some social media accounts re-uploaded and edited their videos, commenting on the perceived messiness of their home. Ben noted that many once-supportive viewers began to believe these rumors.

Zoe explained that maintaining a tidy home with 14 people is challenging. "Many people see piles of clothes and assume it's messy, but those are just individual items that have recently been worn. We are not trying to create a perfect image," she stated.

The family's schedule is demanding, spanning approximately 17 hours daily. Zoe typically wakes at 4:45 am for personal hygiene, to start the first of three daily laundry loads, and to prepare lunch.

To optimize costs amidst doubled summer electricity bills, Zoe regularly buys food in bulk at a nearby store. She encourages the children to share toys and vacuum-packs old clothes for younger siblings to reuse. The family uses two 7-seater vehicles for transport and shopping.

Ben mentioned he saves each child's birthday on his phone because he cannot remember them all. The couple typically eats dinner between 8-9 pm and goes to bed at 10 pm. Going out to eat often requires half an hour just to get the children into the cars.

"Meals are rarely calm, but we accept the chaos," Ben said.

Nhat Minh (*The Sun*)