You’ll never believe it: You think your christmas is stressful?
Despite having 16 children over for the big day, Amy Green, 31, loves playing host
Heaving the enormous 18lb turkey on to the table, I stick my head around the corner and call into the living room, ‘Dinner is ready!’
In an instant, 16 children stampede down the hallway. Plonking themselves at the table, they immediately start reaching for the dishes of food, piling their plates high with roast potatoes, parsnips and cranberry sauce.
As a mum-of-eight, I’m used to hectic dinnertimes. But when I also host my sister Chloe, 28, and her eight children on Christmas Day, the challenge is most definitely amplified.
The first of many
Growing up, Chloe and I were the youngest of 11 siblings. But while I was baby-obsessed and couldn’t wait to have a big brood of my own, Chloe was much more independent.
So when I started dating a local builder named John and we had our first son, Mikey, in November 2005, we were both ecstatic. Being a new mum was just as fantastic as I’d imagined. Then, when Mikey was two months old, Chloe dropped a bombshell.
‘I’m pregnant,’ she said. Leaping up, I hugged her. ‘Chloe, that’s fantastic,’ I cried. ‘But I thought that you didn’t want children.’
She admitted that, despite being on the Pill, she’d fallen pregnant anyway. ‘It’s still a shock,’ she said. ‘But now it’s happened, I’m really excited.’
Eight weeks later, I found out I was expecting my second child, too. In September 2006, Chloe had her first son, Leo, with my second child, Bryony, arriving that December.
That was the first year we did Christmas together with the kids. It was so wonderful that we promised we’d do it every year.
But as our family got bigger and bigger, so too did the Christmas celebrations. By 2012, there were 10 kids crammed around the table, including my brood, Mikey, then seven, Bryony, six, Taylor, three, Oscar, two, Brayden, 11 months, and Osian, two months. Meanwhile, in Chloe’s family, there was Leo, then six, Levi, then three, Oliver, 22 months, and Megan, one. Our mum, Linda, also joined us. It was manic to say the least, but I loved it. But, behind closed doors, John and I had been growing apart. Just a few weeks later, we split and suddenly I found myself a single
mum to six children. But that didn’t stop me.
In 2013, I had my seventh child, Evie, with a new partner, while Chloe had Miley and Lacey the same year. Then the arrival of Esme in 2015 brought my total to eight. Not to be outdone, Chloe had Lexie in 2014 and Elijah in 2015.
That’s meant for the past two Christmases, we’ve had 16 children between us! Our festive lunch has become more like a banquet.
Although it probably sounds like the stuff of nightmares for most people, I love hosting everyone.
Listening to the children’s excited squeals as they all play in the living room while Mum and I chop veg in the kitchen is music to my ears. And who cares if the house ends up in a complete state? I never stress if drinks get spilt, or there’s wrapping paper strewn all over the floor. That’s part of the pleasure of having a huge family Christmas.
But I do have to be organised, so I start my Christmas shopping in September. As a stay-at-home mum, I save through the year and Chloe and I are like a tag team, trawling shopping websites months ahead to find the best deals.
Although Chloe’s children open presents at their own house, five minutes from mine, in North Wales, we try to buy the same things so they don’t become jealous of each other.
Once we’ve bought everything, hiding all of those gifts is a mission in itself. Nearly every cupboard in the house is taken up with clothes and towels, so I put them in the attic.
It means I have to climb up there every night after the children go to bed and spend hours wrapping every present. This year, it took me two weeks to complete and I had to use 10 rolls of wrapping paper.
Single supermum
Now single again, it’s then up to me to carry all the toys downstairs on Christmas Eve and arrange them in the living room. It’s an all-night job.
But seeing the kids’ faces as they walk – or rather run – in on Christmas morning makes it all worthwhile.
Chloe and her family arrive at noon and we sit down to eat at 2pm. So, immediately after presents, I get started on Christmas dinner.
Quantity is key. Every year, we’ll easily get through 3kg of potatoes, four bags of parsnips, a stew pot of gravy and 48 Aunt Bessie Yorkshire Puddings. Not to forget the 18lb turkey we have specially ordered from the butcher.
Luckily, we’ve never had any major dinner disasters. Although, one year, Mum accidentally dropped the turkey on the floor, because it was too heavy for one person to lift. But with 16 mouths to feed, we couldn’t be fussy, so we just wiped it off and served it anyway.
Washing up isn’t too bad because we always use disposable plates. But, with so many people, we normally rack up 10 huge bin bags of rubbish.
I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t stressful, but the truth is I love it. For one day of the year, my sister Chloe and I have our whole families together.
Although it doesn’t come cheap – on average I spend a total of £3,000 – it’s worth it for the memories.
Honestly, I dread the day that all my children grow up and move away.
I just hope they’ll keep coming back for Christmas – and, hopefully, bring their grandchildren with them.
‘Our festive lunch is more like a banquet’