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Tanya's household manual
Before filming starts, each wife writes a manual explaining how their house is run. Below are highlights from Tanya's manual.
HOUSEHOLD CHORES
How often do you clean your home?
My home is cleaned every day, otherwise it looks like a brothel. The kids clean the bathroom and make beds before they go to school. I get the rest of the house done by 10am – I get up at 6:30am to achieve this.
Who does the general cleaning around the house?
I do most of it. Tony doesn't help me but the kids do help with a lot of nagging.
WHO DOES THE FOLLOWING, AND HOW OFTEN?
Vacuuming?
I do this almost every day. With all the animal poop, it often gets dragged into the house from feet.
Dusting?
I dust once a week.
Ironing?
We don't do any ironing, as we don't own an iron. The younger kids don't even know what an iron is!
Cleaning the bathroom?
I wipe the bathroom down every day, hang up presentable towels for visitors and throw out empty bottles. I bleach the bathroom every Saturday.
Cleaning the kitchen?
I clean the kitchen every day. If it's dirty Tony goes off his head!
Washing-up?
We have a dishwasher. The kids load and unload it.
Gardening?
The sheep take care of the garden. Lou-Lou picks up the sheep shit and bags it for Grandad. She doesn't wear gloves – she puts an old sock on her hand to do it and that's as far as we go with the garden.
Feeding pets?
There are a lot of pets to feed and it is done every night after tea. Angela and Tony feed the two sheep. The four dogs get fed leftovers as well as dog biscuits. The two bunnies get fed rabbit mix. The bird gets fed sees every second day.
We often get mice in the house and Tony had made an excellent trap for catching them alive. I get up early in the morning to get to them before the dogs do (they can fit their heads inside). If we have caught any, I move them to the laundry room and Tony feeds them, alive, to the dogs in the yard later on.
COOKING / MEALS
How often do you sit down and eat together?
Almost every morning the kids eat breakfast together while I'm cleaning or feeding any one of the babies. We insist on having dinner together every night.
Where do you eat?
We always eat at the kitchen table but if there are not enough chairs because of the extras, we might have some sit at the bench.
When are meal times?
If the kids haven't had breakfast by 7.45am they miss out – usually that's the older girls and they are not allowed to take a quick snack; they should be more organised in the morning.
Lunch is always at midday, every day.
Dinner is usually around 5pm, but no later than 6 or the kids will keep snacking and we run out of food really quickly. If Tony returns late from work, his tea is microwaved when he gets in.
Who prepares meals?
I prepare the majority of the family meals.
Does Tony help with dinner?
No, never.
DAILY ROUTINE
What time do you get up?
I must get up at 6.30am or I'm behind all day.
How much time do you need to get ready in the morning?
My family all have to be up by 7am, and no excuses. It's always full on in the morning.
My sister comes round to my house between 7.30am and 8am with my niece and nephew before she goes to work – they have breakfast with us.
What do ever get a lie-in?
Lie-in – what's that?! No, I never get a lie-in.
How do you spend your week-day evenings?
Once all the work is done, animals fed and the kids are in bed, I spend my evening watching a bit of TV or playing on the Gameboy. If it's pay-day I go to the shops.
What time do you go to bed?
If the babes are settled, I go to bed no later than 10.30pm.
DISCIPLINE
Who does the child-care? What does it involve
I do the child-caring. Tony helps when he is home. He needs to be told what to do several times, but he does it. I bathe the younger ones, do their hair, set out their pyjamas, chop up their food and generally help them with day-to-day things.
I have a couple of strict rules about the baby and the other children. The baby doesn't walk and is only allowed to be left in her play-pen or her stroller. She only eats pureed food. None of the children are allowed lollipops or hard toffees. They aren't allowed sweets that are smaller than a 50-cent piece.
How do you discipline the children?
To discipline my kids I yell sooooo loud at them. I ground the big kids and/or take something away that they like. Tony has a strap – he uses it if I tell him to.
THE RELATIONSHIP
Who has the final say in family decisions?
Tony has the final say in family decisions.
What tips can you give for coping with Tony?
Make sure you are very direct and clear with instructions. Don't confuse him with too many things at once. Don't talk about card or you'll never get him off the topic as he goes on and on.
How do you like to be treated?
With other people, I expect to be treated as an equal in any situation and shown compassion if I need it.
With Tony, I put up with a lot. I don't care, it's water off a duck's back – I know I'm a good person. I like to be told that I'm loved every day – sometimes he misses out. I buy my own flowers.
HOUSE PHILOSOPHY
Please sum up the philosophy of this house and life within it.
This house is a home, full of noise, smelly socks, kids and animals. We are 'tryers' with a dream: to give our kids the world and we will. We don't stand for anything less than love. We don't want for much. We may not have it all but we have something that money can't buy: we have one another and we have love. That's what is important to me; nothing else.
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