Kelly's household manual
Before filming starts, each wife writes a manual explaining how their house is run. Below are highlights from Kelly's manual.
HOUSEHOLD CHORES
How often do you clean your home?
I've always said our house is a pit ? but it's a home that's lived in. I'm not into keeping things immaculate; I spend enough time trying to keep it clean. I'm constantly cleaning up after the kids ? basically, that's what I fill my day with: I'm always cleaning.
Who does the general cleaning around the house?
I do pretty much everything in this house. Lee hardly does any cleaning and if I didn't do it, no one would. Lee does clean the kitchen once in a blue moon but I'll have to moan at him to do it.
WHO DOES THE FOLLOWING, AND HOW OFTEN?
Vacuuming?
I do all the vacuuming. Whilst the kids are getting ready for school I do the whole house if I have time ? that's anytime between 6am and 8:15am. If I haven't had time to do it before I've taken the kids to school, I'll vacuum as soon as I get back.
If I didn't vacuum everyday, the place would be a real pigsty.
Dusting?
I don't do any dusting ? there's nothing to dust. I'll run a cloth quickly over the TV every so often but other than that, nothing else.
Ironing?
I don't do any ironing. My tumble dryer gets enough of the creases out of the clothes. If the kids desperately need something doing, Lee might do that for them.
The little kids have a habit of pulling all their clothes out of the wardrobe, so it's a waste of time ironing their clothes.
Cleaning the bathroom?
I do try and clean the bathroom everyday. I'm always having to clean it after the kids have used it because they leave it in a right state. I try to get the kids to clean it after themselves, but they won't do it.
If I've got time in the morning I'll clean the toilet and sink ? if not, I'll do them after I've taken the kids to school.
I sometimes lock the bathroom because the kids mess it up and usually nick all my best bubble bath. The kids trash everywhere.
Clothes washing?
I go round and collect the kids' dirty washing from their rooms every day ? Lee would never think of doing it.
I do between four and five loads of washing everyday ? because there's so many of them; I have to do so much. The most important thing is their school uniforms ? they don't have spare uniforms, so if they're dirty, they have to be done that night and be ready for the next day.
I dry all of the clothes either on the radiators, in the drier or on the line I have in the kitchen. I'm constantly doing washing ? as soon as I've folded one lot away, another lot goes in the machine.
Once the clothes are done, I'll tell the kids to come and get their own and they put them all in a wardrobe ? they don't have separate wardrobes.
I wash the bed sheets every week.
Cleaning the kitchen?
I try and clean the kitchen everyday. The outside of the cupboards and surfaces are definitely done everyday. I normally give everywhere a quick wipe down before I make the kid's packed lunches in the morning.
I usually unload the dishwasher and then clean the sides down. I clean the floor everyday ? I usually have to get down on my hands and knees.
COOKING / MEALS
How often do you sit down and eat together?
We never sit down and eat together ? we haven't got a table and chairs so it's impossible. I just like to get them all fed as quickly as possible.
You hardly have time to think, let alone talk at meal times in this house.
Where do you eat?
Dinnertime in this house is like feeding time at the zoo.
Everyone either eats on the floor in the kitchen, or on their laps in the lounge in front of the TV. I get the kids their food first because you can't all eat together when they're all fighting over their food.
Me and Lee sit in the lounge and eat off our laps.
Who prepares meals?
Lee will help to make some of the meals once in a while, but mainly I do all the cooking. I do all the breakfasts as Lee's usually in bed.
I usually make dinner as well. Lee will sometimes help if I ask him to.
Does Lee help with dinner?
Lee says that it's my job to do the cooking. But if I moan at him enough, he'll sometimes help.
DAILY ROUTINE
What time do you get up?
I get up at 6am every morning, apart from at weekends. It's a real nightmare trying to get seven kids ready for school in the mornings so I have to start early.
Lee's not working at the moment ? so he gets up when he wants. Some days he could be in bed until 12pm and then he wants a cup of tea. There's no point trying to change him ? Lee's used to getting his own way, and he's especially grumpy in the mornings. I've tried to ask him to get up and help me, but he just doesn't listen so I get the kids ready for school all on my own.
Do you ever get a lie-in?
I don't get a lie in during the week. I get up at 6am because there's no one else to get the kids ready.
I like to try to get a lie in at the weekend ? that will be until about 8:30 ? 9am. If the kids get up though, I have to get up. Lee doesn't see to the kids by himself. I don't stand a chance of getting him up.
How do you spend your week-day evenings?
Evenings in this house are so hectic. I don't know what goes on in this house of a night to be honest.
I like to sit down and veg in front of the telly with the kids. I'll always have to get up and do something or other though, like put a wash on.
I also have to get all the kids' uniforms prepared every evening for the next day ? if they need to be washed, I'll do that.
You have to check the kids' hair every night for nits. Especially Hope. I put the tea tree conditioner on every day ? when she has her bath in the morning. Every other evening I will go through her hair thoroughly with a nit comb in the lounge ? I put the tea tree conditioner in her hair and have a towel on my lap.
What time do you go to bed?
I'm normally in bed between 9.30pm and 10pm, but it depends what's on the telly. If there's something good on we'll stay up. Lee can be up all night watching telly sometimes and I just leave him to it. It's not unusual to come down in the morning and find him asleep on the sofa with some of the little kids.
DISCIPLINE
Who does the childcare? What does it involve
It's me who does the childcare ? bathing them, cleaning them, keeping them tidy and looked after and taking them to and from school. Lee disciplines them.
I find looking after the little ones easier than the older ones. I love babies. The little ones don't listen to me, but I know they're only little. At the end of the day, I'd have little kids who don't listen than big kids who mouth you off and swear at you.
If it's quiet for more than 5 seconds you know to go and look because the kids will definitely be doing something they shouldn't be.
Lee doesn't help with childcare. I might say to Lee "Do you want to start finding the kids for me?" when it gets dark, and he will do that, but that's about it.
The older ones sometimes help me with the little ones when I'm stuck. Connor might help to bathe them, and he'll tell me when they're doing something dangerous or something they shouldn't be.
How do you discipline the children?
If I need to discipline the kids, I shout.
I don't believe in rules and regulations, that's rubbish ? it's no way to bring up kids. I think kids respect you more when they're older if you've given them freedom when they are growing up.
My motto is "anything for a bit of peace" ? so normally I don't see my punishments through ? I say they're not allowed something, but then I let them get away with it. The kids know I'm a soft touch when it comes to discipline. I try to give them three warnings before punish them, but it always turns into six, and then they get away with it anyway.
They are just kids ? of course they're going to be naughty sometimes.
Lee leaves the disciplining up to me until he's had enough of the noise, and then he'll have a go.
It is embarrassing, but Shea sometimes spits in your face and slaps you ? but it's just a stage. He wants attention and to get a reaction, so I just ignore him.
THE RELATIONSHIP
What tips can you give for coping with Lee?
Good luck - living with Lee sometimes is like banging your head against a brick wall!
If Lee sees something that needs doing then most of the time, he'll do it. But if someone tells him to do something, then he definitely won't do it. I rub him up the wrong way a lot of the time ? that's why so much of the DIY isn't done.
How do you like to be treated?
I like to be treated the way I would treat other people. I like to think that I'm a respectful person and my kids are respectful towards other people.
HOUSE PHILOSOPHY
Please sum up the philosophy of this house and life within it.
This house is all about our kids ? and we've got a lot of them. Lee and I hardly ever go out unless we're with them. The most important thing in my life is my kids.
I want my kids to be free. I don't want them to have loads of rules at home.
We're honest and open with our kids ? everything in this house is as much theirs as ours. Whatever we've got we give to the kids ? because I want them to be happy and free spirits.
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