Mom of 20 shares realities of raising a 22-member blended family

A Spokane, Washington, family has grown into a 22-person household, with 20 children ranging from toddlers to young adults. Desiree and Christopher Hart-Spegal manage daily life for a multi-generational brood that includes five teenagers, several pre-teens, and a seven‑month-old, all under one roof. The couple met in October 2013 when she already had three children from a previous relationship and he had eight; they married in July 2014 and soon added nine more kids to the mix, creating a blended family of 22.

Desiree says the larger family was not part of a long-term plan, but after tying the knot she chose not to use contraception. The family’s roster now includes Gavin, 24; Skyler, 23; Braden, 21; Maliki, 20; Makaila, 19; Kaden, 18; Sarayia and Jayden, both 15; Donny, Chevelle and Andrew, all 12; Christa, 10; Izabella, nine; Chris Jr., eight; Lily, seven; Heavenly, six; Ellie, five; Briella, three; Ezekiel, two; and Zavior, seven months. The Hart-Spegals recently welcomed their 20th child and have since said they do not plan to have more children.

The couple’s daily routine centers on feeding a large family, with cooking taking up substantial time and energy. Breakfast typically unfolds into a multi-hour process, followed by lunch preparations and a later dinner, with cleanup stretching long after. Desiree notes that cooking for so many allows for bulk shopping and lower per-item costs, and she often creates weekly menus so each child knows what to expect. The downside is the sheer frequency: three meals a day, plus snacks, requiring constant kitchen use and post-meal cleanup. The kitchen has become something of a second living space for the family, a hub where meals, planning and chores intersect.

Financially, the Hart-Spegals report roughly $26,000 spent on food each year for a family of 22, averaging about $500 a week. Christmas is an especially expensive time; Desiree has said they have spent as much as $10,000 on gifts in some years, though she notes they are aiming to keep this year under $5,000. The family resides in a 3,200-square-foot home with five bedrooms and three bathrooms, a space the parents continuously adapt. They even converted a basement area into a “boys corridor” to house their sons, while parents assign age-appropriate chores to each child to maintain some order.

Keeping up with such a household is not easy, and Desiree says she spends a great deal of time cleaning in addition to cooking. She typically handles laundry in two daily loads, with Saturdays requiring even more, and she estimates the upkeep is a constant cycle of tidying, laundry and meal-prep. The family travels in a 15-passenger van, a vehicle size that makes trips both domestic and social a logistical exercise, with Desiree and Christopher counting heads and ensuring younger children are safely attached to an older sibling’s hand when out in public. Despite the chaos, the couple emphasizes the importance of one-on-one time with each child, arranging private conversations or small outings to provide individual attention during birthdays or other milestones.

After the birth of Zavior in May, Desiree said they decided they did not want more children and planned a vasectomy for the following April. She acknowledges that life may still hold surprises, given that nothing is legally guaranteed, but the family has established routines and contingencies to keep the household functioning. The Hart-Spegals regularly document their adventures on social media, sharing their life as a large family with followers who often react with a mix of admiration and scrutiny. Some commenters question the sustainability of such a large brood and have raised concerns about resource use, while others praise the parents for maintaining structure and providing attention to each child.

Desiree says the heart of their approach is prioritizing time with each child, especially on birthdays, and ensuring every child feels seen. She believes that despite the demanding schedule, private conversations and individual time with parents remain highly valuable for building relationships within the family. In an era of growing concerns about family size, budgeting and time management, the Hart-Spepals’ life offers a window into the realities of raising a very large, blended family and the everyday compromises involved in balancing devotion with practicality.