‘A little bit crazy, a little bit scary’, but a chance to get back to being a family

Dundee mum of Scotland’s biggest family gives insight into lockdown life

The Dundee mum of Scotland’s biggest family has spoken about lockdown life.

Emma Hann has 13 children and a husband working nights at Ninewells.

She said: “It’s a little bit crazy, a little bit chaotic and a little bit scary, but it’s actually nice to get back to being a family

“Sometimes life just happens, but what we are doing these last few weeks is putting more structure into that.

“Usually everyone is in and out at different times for work and school but now we are all stuck at home, we are getting back to a routine and it’s mad but in a lot of ways, not such a bad thing.

“I spent 28 years at home with the kids, but a few years ago I opened a café so I’ve got used to being out of the house working and having a bit of a break from them.

“With us all back home, we’re going back to how it used to be, and it is pretty strange.

“Of course, we’ve had to adjust with introducing rules and a bit more routine and activity, but we’re surviving and working well together. It just shows you how strong the family bond can be.”

The Hanns have gone back to basics, putting house rules in place, splitting up the chores and encouraging the children to exercise more independence and teamwork.

“Usually I ask the children to help and they all self-isolate in their rooms, but the last week has been different.

“We now have some conditions, like no TV if the house isn’t tidy, and the kids need to clear away their own dishes after meals and take turns helping prepare dinner for the rest of the family.

“I’m pretty lax about when everyone gets up because there is no real urgency,” she said.

“We aren’t really doing homeschooling. We have a few learning apps and homework packs, so are working through those a little every day, although the schedule isn’t rigid.

“It would be too hard to keep that many kids in check all day long!

“But we are finding the older children are using their strengths to help the younger ones.”

Roy, an advanced nurse practitioner at Ninewells, is managing the out-ofhours service at the hospital.

He said: “We’ve been trying to give them little things to do, things that we wouldn’t necessarily ask them to do when we are all busy with school and work.

“There’s a novelty in taking turns to walk the dog, Buster, so we’re making the most of it while it lasts.

“The hardest thing is stopping them from spending all day on phones, tablets and watching TV.

“We’ve introduced things like PE sessions with Joe Wicks, and doing 100 jumps on the trampoline.

“And we’re going back to things we have done before, like bringing back a tuck shop so the kids can spend their pocket money, and they can earn more for helping out.”

The family have also indulged in home decorating and gardening, including a little vegetable patch.

However, 50-year-old Emma admits to feelings of guilt. “In the last week I’ve been showing them how to cook and bake and knit and crochet – all the things I used to teach them but, with our busy lives, it can be hard to find the time to factor these in.

“It has made me feel bad about no longer being a stay-at-home mum – and about the future. I’m not saying we will be living on beans and toast and avoiding takeaways once all this is over, but we are trying to use the opportunity to get back to home life in any way we possibly can.”

Roy and Emma’s daughter Alice, 21, who is employed in a retail warehouse, is still working, as is Sophia, 27, a carer for a visually impaired woman and her family.

Everyone else – aside from Rachel, 28, Polly, 26, and Charlotte, 24, who have flown the nest – remains in lockdown, including Annabelle, 19, Jennifer, 17, Isabella, 16, Jonas, 14, Enos, 12, Eva, 10, Posy, 8, and five-year-old Meg.

“Just feeding everyone three meals a day is a challenge, but we’re managing,” said Emma.

“We didn’t stockpile food as we always have plenty in the cupboards anyway... but I have popped to Tesco a few times and did wonder what happens if we need more of something that’s restricted, because there are so many of us?” she said.

“The rations don’t account for families as big as ours.”

“We’re going back to how it used to be. EMMA HANN

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. Surviving and working well together: The Hann family of Dundee.