Family Of 12 Shows How They Manage To Travel In A 30-Foot Trailer And People Online Don’t Approve
Living on the road is difficult enough, especially if you’re doing it with a lot of people. From making food to going to the toilet and showering, it can get burdensome, making people long to be in their warm and comfortable home. It’s especially demanding to have comfortable sleeping arrangements, with beds sometimes being hard, there not being enough space to lie down comfortably, and others snoring not too far away.
TikToker Amber de la Motte showed off how her family of 12 sleeps in an Airstream travel trailer, sparking discussions in various communities online.
More info: TikTok Part 1 | TikTok Part 2
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
Amber de la Motte shows off her family’s sleeping arrangements for their half-week long trip
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
“How we sleep in the trailer. This is where the little girls sleep”
“It used to be a table, but it converts into a bed.”
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
“Here’s the couch. And Noah’s sleeping on it. Here’s where Enoch sleeps“
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
“Here’s Elijah. He has a top bunk. Down here are Pearl and Naomi”
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
“Here’s where Josiah sleeps. This is where Moses sleeps”
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
“This is where Mommy and Daddy sleep”
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
In a previous video, Amber shows the audience more of their trailer, from their kitchen to their bathroom facilities
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
“Hi guys, I’m gonna give you an Airstream tour”
“So in the front part of the Airstream there’s a bedroom, it’s a queen bed and it has some storage on the side, storage on the top and we have a little bed for the baby.”
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
“Here’s the front door. And then over here we have a little table that turns into a bed and a TV”
“On the other side we have a little couch that we can also use as a bed and we have storage on top.”
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
“There’s a little sink here, microwave, and our stove which is full of cereal and fruit”
“On this side is the fridge. It’s not huge but stores frozen fruit, and milk and stuff.”
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
“Up here is a bunk bed and down here is another queen bed”
“On this side we have a bathroom, the shower, the toilet and the sink.”
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
Watch the original videos here:
@thehappycaravan People have asked how our family of 12 sleeps in our 30 ft trailer. It’s not perfect, but more comfy than a tent because there is heat, AC and a fridge. 👍🏼 #airstream #rvlife #familyrv #caravan #trailer #familytok #howwesleep ♬ The 30 Foot Trailer (Song) – The Drowsy Lads
@thehappycaravan 30 ft FB bunk Airstream Tour! It’s a bit squishy for our family of 12 but more comfy than a tent when camping because we have heat and AC and a fridge. #rvlife #airstreamtour #airstream #airstreamlife #momtok #familylife #largefamilylife #momof10 ♬ simple. – coldbrew
Amber de la Motte is happy with how her family fits in the Airstream comfortably, but the internet has second thoughts about it
The video that went viral was a TikTok showing how Amber’s 10 children, she, and her husband fit in their trailer to sleep. The beds come in various shapes and sizes, from 3 girls sleeping on a table that converts to a bed, to bunk beds, to several of the children sleeping on the floor.
It seems that for the duration of this trip, two of the children, young Enoch and teenage Josiah, had to sleep on the trailer’s floor for some time. It isn’t very easy to see whether there is a mat or something soft underneath them, but it doesn’t seem so at first glance.
This is all detailed in a series of videos on her Tiktok, from a San Francisco – San Diego trip, which is about 500 miles (805 km), to their moving trip from their previous home in San Francisco to their New York City home in Harlem. They took the latter trip also using the Airstream trailer, which would come out to about 2905 miles (4676 km) by car.
She mentions that all 12 of them living in a 30-foot (9 m) trailer isn’t perfect, but at the same time, it’s more comfortable than living in a tent, as they have AC, heating, and a fridge. In a comment on one of the videos, Amber humorously comments that it’s safer in the trailer than sleeping with bears outside, as she once was camping in Yosemite when a bear walked by her tent.
The family is also incredibly talented, with 9 of their kids playing various string instruments. It appears that at least 7 of them have perfect pitch and they frequently perform various covers, such as Harry Styles’ As It Was, performed by the children as a string quintet.
This NYC move was apparently necessary as 7 kids auditioned for Juilliard, and 3 of them were accepted to it. They felt that it was wise to move their entire family, as there are many highly rated music schools in the area for the rest of their kids. For the uninitiated, Juilliard is a prestigious music school in NYC, with a 7.4% acceptance rate, according to 2021 data.
They are also an intensely religious family, showing their devotion in many of their videos. Nevertheless, Amber has spoken candidly about their experiences with the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Church they had attended for 15 years.
They took on more moderate views after leaving the church, which made all the women attending wear skirts and considered rock music “evil.” They ultimately left the church because pastors of IFB churches that were tried for abusing minors started showing up in their church.
Image credits: @thehappycaravan
So what’s the buzz all about, then? Well, although many expressed how cool and cute it is for them to be traveling all together like they show on their social media, not everyone took kindly to some of the children sleeping on the floor. People were shook up and said that it’s too much for children to be sleeping on hard floors without any padding.
In Amber’s defense, the sleeping spots get rotated between the children and parents, but Amber can’t give up the bed, as she has to nurse the youngest, Moses. A later video addressed viewers’ concerns, saying that Enoch now has a blow-up mat to sleep on. Amber further mentions that Enoch gave up his spot on the bed for his sister, Melody, as they forgot her fold-up mat.
Folks on the internet pointed out that Josiah, also sleeping on the floor, was glossed over, further not being satisfied with the treatment of Enoch. Many were outraged at this, but others also said that sleeping on the floor is no big deal and that they are only just traveling like this for a short time, among other things.
Another family on social media, Knorpp and South, lives in an RV when going on trips, having lived in one permanently for a long time in the past. They solve the issues of their kids sleeping by having a separate bunk bedroom, which sleeps 7 of their 9 kids at once. They’ve also installed a separate AC for the room, as it does get hot and humid with so many people sleeping in a small space. Two other kids sleep on a big couch in the kitchen.
It is possible to sleep a large family in a trailer or RV. It just takes a lot of work to set it up and adapt it to your family’s needs. The camping world blog has suggestions and advice for big families that want to travel comfortably, emphasizing the importance of good beds and other comfort facilities when traveling.
Amber’s original sleeping arrangement video received more than 11 million views and more than 1 million likes. But the 14 thousand commenters were divided, with many disagreeing with their sleeping arrangements, calling them unfair and sad. There was another just as vocal camp saying that they were in love with the setup and would’ve loved to live like this as kids. What are your thoughts? Have experiences of traveling together with many people? Share them in the comments!
Comments were torn with people being upset with the parents for treating their children unfairly and others saying they are in love with the idea
12 kids and they have names like Noah, Enoch, Josiah, Elijah, and Moses. Color me surprised.
Of course they are fundies. Who else would it be? It's some straight up Duggar s**t and look how that turned out with the pedo older brother
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Have 100% slept on trailer couches before, it's not bad at all. But a hardwood floor though? Give the kid an air mattress at least. Yeesh. However, I will say that this kind of stuff is very fun for kids a lot of the time. They'll likely remember these times fondly. I know I do.
My anecdote was definitely illegal at the time and still is, but me and my three cousins would pile into the back of my grandpa's Ford pick-up truck that had a camper shell on it and travel from North Georgia to Arkansas every summer. We would just pile blankets in the back and use our back-packs and luggage as pillows. Those were some looooooong trips, lol, but we all had a blast. Luckily we never wrecked because we would all be dead.
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I think it's absurd people are getting so worked up about this. 1) It's not a permanent living situation, it's a cross country road trip of less than a week. 2) Didn't you people ever sleep on the floor as a kid? Sleepover at a friends? Living room campout? Actual camping? A sleeping bag,a pillow, and a bit of floor was all that was needed. As an adult, I'm a lot more princess and the pea and need a real bed, but as a kid it was fun.
I don't understand why people are getting worked up about this either. My cousins used to lived in an RV and would just put all of them into one bed while my aunt and uncle shared the couch.
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I am a strong Christian and I can say there is no Biblical reason for having a big family. The phrase, "Be fruitful and multiply" was said only to Adam and Noah, NOT the rest of us. Having huge number of kids strikes me as a type of self absorbtion.
Every sperm is sacred, Every sperm is great. If a sperm is wasted, God gets quite irate.
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Nah, this is how restricting birth control ends up. Great to have a picture of the future of restricting women's reproductive rights because this looks like such a great life for 10 kids. *hopefully my sarcasm bleeds through*
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What's more selfish that thinking there should be 10 more of you? Forcing all those INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE to cram into such tight quarters. Thinking it's reasonable that you all have to share one tiny toilet; really hope nobody gets food poisoning. I won't continue. Those parents are pretty selfish and I feel bad for their kids.
I go on vacation with my kids. They sleep in tents and the tents DON'T have bathrooms. No a/c, no heat, no fridge for the food. My kids sleep on the ground with sleeping bags. Omfg, I must be incredibly selfish. Remove the kids!
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Y’all. This is for trips. This is not their living situation. They live in NYC, their kids are happy and well adjusted, they aren’t living on welfare. The family moved cross country to support their children’s talents. These parents love their children. They are the good guys.
I know people (they were friends, not any more) who have 6 kids. They say they love there kids. And they probably think they do... but seriously, kids need time. Attention. You have to be able to support all of them. And they can't. Those kids will never have special time with their parents ; the older kids will end up being second parents, helping to take care of the youngest one, which should not be a kid job... so no, they are not the good guys. they suck.
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I think a lot of the upset comments are from people mis-reading and thinking they live like this (plus some from the professionally/perennially upset). But you can't make it much longer & still drive, so it's that or tents. Also a kid weighs much less, so much thinner mattress will do; and a kid that slept badly is just grouchy while a parent that missed their night is a danger on the road. Can't believe I'm defending a pair of fundamentalist hormonal rabbits but there you go.
I about choked reading last line. Best thing I've read all week.
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It's not permanent, it's a fun adventure. These kids will remember it fondly and will likely do this with their own kids. And kids are more resilient than adults, a week on hard-wood floors will not cause permanent damage, if any.
Maybe I am not reading correctly - but is this temporary? "Living in" instead of vacationing or traveling in the wording is confusing me but aren't they going to NY?
I was confused as well. For a road trip once in a while, fine. I've slept on the floor of a tent as a kid, it was fine. Living like this, nope.
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Why do so many people think that having big families is inherently evil? Just because sometimes it doesn’t work doesn’t mean that always happens. It really has more to do with the environment and parenting style than just the number of siblings. Besides, all these kids seem to have plenty of room, and sleeping on the floor can be fun for a few days. Yeah, they’re sharing a bed, but they don’t have opposite genders sharing and I would assume several of the girls share a room at home too. The parents’ bed did seem a little big compared to the rest, but I expect that’s probably just due to the width of the trailer and the storage around it. They probably couldn’t have fit another person in the space left over. Also, some of the younger kids might want to crawl in with their parents at some point. So the larger bed makes sense. I just don’t see why this family is getting so much hate for going on a vacation together quite comfortably.
I think people are reacting badly because there’s a certain cult “religious” sect in the US that promotes having as many children as possible among other more nefarious practices and this family has a lot of the hallmarks of that cult.
Load More Replies... I don't get the fake outrage on this subject. They're traveling as a family, pretty awesome thing right there. The kids sleep all whichaway including on the floor, so what. They share a small space with one toilet for a week, so what. If anyone is bothered by this they really need to get out of their first world comfort zone and live a little. As for the family's religious focus, not anyones business but theirs, that said, I'm glad they were aware enough to leave their fundi church when the pedos showed up.
I don't get all this judging. It's a couple of days on a trip, not a lifetime! I sometimes have to send my kids to sleep in their beds because they want to sleep on the floor on a blanket. In their room. Kids can sleep anywhere. And I am sure some if them end up in their parents ' bed by the morning. And yeap, when you go camping you all sleep on the floor. I mean we do. Only the baby gets a proper camp-crib.
If they lived like this full time it might be more concerning, but it sounds like this is temporary, like for vacation travels? Kids sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor/hard ground all the time at sleepovers or while camping. They have pillows. They'll be fine. People are getting all judgey and mad over things that aren't all that serious. They have a clean, safe looking travel trailer/RV and all the kids look like they're having a nice time. I used to go camping as a kid all the time, or sleepover at friends'/cousins' with just a pillow and blanket. My son has his choice of two beds in his room, foam toppers all that, and half the time I find him sprawled on the floor passed out with a pillow and a blanket. It's really not a big deal.
When do the teens do teen stuff???? They can't even masturbate in peace.
Is masturbating supposed to be a universal teen thing? Pretty sure a large portion of the population doesn’t actually do that very much if at all.
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It's a four day trip, they will be fine! The only problem I see is they don't have sleeping mats for those on the floor.
People need to get a grip. Mind your business. It's a road trip not their housing. Kids all look healthy, happy, and well cared for. How many of us as kid fell asleep on the floor watching TV and parents left us there?? People need to remember kids are resilient af. They can sleep just about any where and in the craziest position. For those talking about the amount of kids they have.. why do you care?? Are you paying to raise them. Some people need reminder of golden rule we learned as children. If you don't have nothing nice to say. Don't say anything at all
They are all safe inside an Airstream ffs. Better than sleeping in a tent on the ground. I'm sure the people complaining about it has never gone camping without a comfy mattress of some sort. Smh. Plenty of families out there sleeping on floors without beds but god forbid a family travels without one. Last I checked kids can sleep pretty much anywhere. Plus the article says the kids rotate so it's not the same ones on the floor. None of the children look unhappy, unfed or unkempt so what's the big deal?
What's wrong with kids sleeping on the floor? I used to camp out in the living room floor on the weekends when I was a kid. It was awesome! Movie nights and popcorn! Camping in a tent you're sleeping on the ground. Kids seem happy. They're more limber. I haven't slept on the floor since my hips grew in during puberty. Kids are limber, adults, not so much. Mom said she was nursing, understandable. It's not like they're living in the trailer full time. That's a different story.
It's not as if they live in the trailer full time, it's only a trip for a few days.
Yeah I guess people could get upset at this, but sometimes kids love stuff like this. We went camping a lot and slept outside on the ground. My kids often decide to sleep on the floor because they find it comfortable. Many people live in poverty worse than this. I think it's a bit rough, but it's a weird thing to get outraged about.
Aren't babies supposed to sleep on their backs? That's my only take on this. Clearly this is for travelling. People bitching about the kid's sleeping arrangements yet people will take their families camping and have them sleep in a tent on the ground, with no cushioning, other than whatever is soft in the sleeping bag and a pillow. I'm sure everyone gets some private time to get dressed. Again, it's travelling for a short time. They're not strangers. If they have a really good family dynamic and it works out for them then whatever. They wouldn't get criticism if they didn't share it for the world to scrutinize. In fact, they should keep their kids off the internet. Too many weirdos and pedos out there.
Babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep, but once they have the muscle control to roll themselves over its OK to let them sleep however they position themselves.
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I love all the comments about kids sleeping on the floor. Have these people never had kids? Google pictures of kids sleeping and there are hundreds of them with kids not only sleeping in weird places, but in just bizarre positions. I guess those parents hate their kids too. And for those throwing conniptions about kids sleeping on the floor- what do you think they use in most daycares for nap time? Or in schools that have nap time for younger kids? Y'all either don't have kids, are ignorant, or are just professional griefers that don't have a life. Maybe a bit of each. I bet if y'all posted a segment of your life, you too would be torn to shreds by complete strangers. Live and let live. Their kids are happy, healthy, and are apparently getting their parents attention and love (three kids accepted in to Julliard and all are under the age of 13). Music is a skill that while some may have an inborn talent, needs to be worked at and cultivated. Not to mention this move if for their kids.
Meh, you cannot be a good parent to ten kids at a time. I assume at least one of them has a job. Kids need attention, not a family band.
It's ½ a week idk y some people r acting like it's permanent. It's not great tho. And of course the parents get the massive bed or the kids WILL fight over it... But tbf some of the kids do have beds. Idk anymore
Sorry, this is completely unrelated but I recently also found out I'm AroAce and I use the exact same pronouns!! :D
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i mean... it's literally just for trips, it's not like they live there full time. that being said, i would recommend foam sleeping pads or something, the floor doesn't look too comfy.
Okay, I know the Bible says, "Be fruitful and multiply," but there were only like 5 million people on the planet when they wrote that. God says give it a rest already!
I just....can't....get over that two of the children sleep on the floor.
I sleep on the floor anytime my family goes camping, and used to sleep on my bedroom floor every summer because it was too hot in my loft bed. Floors are nice sometimes. And they have sleeping bags, so it’s not like there isn’t any padding.
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Apparently many people didn't actually READ the article. They're not living in the Airstream, they're using it in place of hotels or camping in a tent WHILE MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. Geez people, get a f*cking grip.
When me and my brothers were kids we had our own beds in our own rooms and we always wanted to sleep out in the living room we'd grab our blanket and pillow and fall asleep right on the carpet floor so I don't think it's that big of a deal
White people problems much... Literally majority of humanity has slept on floor or other hard surface, for some time of their life at least. Kids, being lighter, don't necessarily notice it that much either, I at least was at a sleepover as a kid, and we made a bed out of an old cotton duvet on the floor, when there was a perfectly fine bed available. It just seemed more fun I guess, like camping.
So I probably shouldn't tell you about the couple of nights vacation one February where my kids were in a tent at 1degC and I was in a glamping shepherd's hut with a bed then?
Moving from San Francisco to Harlem, that's going to be quite the culture shock. Plus I have no idea how they're going to fit 12 people in a NYC apartment. The trailer might be bigger. Either way, they need to ditch the 'multiply for Jesus' mentality and start using birth control.
of course mom and dad are the only people with an actual normal sized human bed
It’s still a pretty small bed, just maybe a bit larger to allow for less flexible joints. Also maybe photo angle plays a part.
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12 kids? Irresponsible! + I'd like to know where are the children when the parents decide to "make" the next one.
If they were camping they would be on the hard ground. I slept like this for years, by choice. No kid should whine over this.
So, I was molested by my cousin and also by my uncle who was only a few years older than me. So, this sleeping situation worries me. I was molested by my cousin from the age 8-10 and then my uncle from 7-10.
Why is it always Christians that breed like rabbits! We are way overpopulated to begin with. We sure as hell don't need this practice.
Just as an observation, I’ve heard of lots of huge families from India or Southeast Asia that sometimes have over a hundred kids (multiple wives). And yet Christians get the large family stereotype.
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This family reminds me of 19 kids and county where these kids are home schooled . There is no room for these kids to do anything and be a kid. They need to be around other kids or have more room like a RV
Birth Control is a thing that exists I can't stand these Quiverful fundies.
This is an environmental disaster, WAY TOO MANY KIDS, pull out for God sake
It’s family dynamics that make or break how people remember these things and my experiences had no positives. No exaggeration. It’s hard for me to look at fundies and understand where they’re coming from- Where does the Bible say anything about dowdy skirts, unstyled hair, plaid shirts for boys? Is one verse about a man’s quiver sufficient to cram so many people into a family? While these families appear happy, connected & faithful while young I hope they make room for doubts, then acceptance when some leave the faith. (It’s not college that does it- that may be when they finally say the words.) Maybe they’ll figure out how to have large happy families be 6 and there will be fewer parentified elder children. Maybe they’ll see they can look back fondly on family trips with a 24’ trailer, not 30’.
I mean, this is just irresponsible parenting. No way around it. Many adults choose to live this way, and thats fine, but I guarantee these children would rather have a bed if given the choice.
Sleeping on a hard floor for a night or two is one thing but this appears to be a long term set up. The kids on the floor need bed pads or air mattresses. The fact that the parents have a cozy bed and no concern for two of their children bothers me immensely.
It’s for as long as it takes to drive from SF to NYC, which is probably around a week or so. And I’m sure the parents’ bed isn’t actually that cozy. Besides, later on in the article it said that the kids sometimes swap sleeping spots for variety.
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Disgusting. Those children are going to grow up to real f****d up adults.
Maybe stop having so many kids and get an actual house with rooms for your kids so they have a normal place to sleep instead of the FLOOR.
They have an apartment in NYC. This is just for a trip - I camp with my kids and they sleep on the ground in tents with sleeping bags. It’s part of the experience.
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For camping this can be fun for extremely young children, but these kids are too old. They want independence and privacy. Now, let's talk about the kids. This planet is dying, we can barely sustain ourselves, yet people like this just breed breed breed and breed again. Is that why the parents have a bed and the kids don't? Religious zealots I swear are trying to destroy us all.
They are on a road trip of less than a week. They have an apartment in NYC. You've never slept on the floor for a sleepover?
Load More Replies... They are on a road trip. They don't live there, just travelling for a few days
Load More Replies... 12 kids and they have names like Noah, Enoch, Josiah, Elijah, and Moses. Color me surprised.
Of course they are fundies. Who else would it be? It's some straight up Duggar s**t and look how that turned out with the pedo older brother
Load More Replies... Have 100% slept on trailer couches before, it's not bad at all. But a hardwood floor though? Give the kid an air mattress at least. Yeesh. However, I will say that this kind of stuff is very fun for kids a lot of the time. They'll likely remember these times fondly. I know I do.
My anecdote was definitely illegal at the time and still is, but me and my three cousins would pile into the back of my grandpa's Ford pick-up truck that had a camper shell on it and travel from North Georgia to Arkansas every summer. We would just pile blankets in the back and use our back-packs and luggage as pillows. Those were some looooooong trips, lol, but we all had a blast. Luckily we never wrecked because we would all be dead.
Load More Replies... I think it's absurd people are getting so worked up about this. 1) It's not a permanent living situation, it's a cross country road trip of less than a week. 2) Didn't you people ever sleep on the floor as a kid? Sleepover at a friends? Living room campout? Actual camping? A sleeping bag,a pillow, and a bit of floor was all that was needed. As an adult, I'm a lot more princess and the pea and need a real bed, but as a kid it was fun.
I don't understand why people are getting worked up about this either. My cousins used to lived in an RV and would just put all of them into one bed while my aunt and uncle shared the couch.
Load More Replies... I am a strong Christian and I can say there is no Biblical reason for having a big family. The phrase, "Be fruitful and multiply" was said only to Adam and Noah, NOT the rest of us. Having huge number of kids strikes me as a type of self absorbtion.
Every sperm is sacred, Every sperm is great. If a sperm is wasted, God gets quite irate.
Load More Replies... Nah, this is how restricting birth control ends up. Great to have a picture of the future of restricting women's reproductive rights because this looks like such a great life for 10 kids. *hopefully my sarcasm bleeds through*
Load More Replies... What's more selfish that thinking there should be 10 more of you? Forcing all those INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE to cram into such tight quarters. Thinking it's reasonable that you all have to share one tiny toilet; really hope nobody gets food poisoning. I won't continue. Those parents are pretty selfish and I feel bad for their kids.
I go on vacation with my kids. They sleep in tents and the tents DON'T have bathrooms. No a/c, no heat, no fridge for the food. My kids sleep on the ground with sleeping bags. Omfg, I must be incredibly selfish. Remove the kids!
Load More Replies... Y’all. This is for trips. This is not their living situation. They live in NYC, their kids are happy and well adjusted, they aren’t living on welfare. The family moved cross country to support their children’s talents. These parents love their children. They are the good guys.
I know people (they were friends, not any more) who have 6 kids. They say they love there kids. And they probably think they do... but seriously, kids need time. Attention. You have to be able to support all of them. And they can't. Those kids will never have special time with their parents ; the older kids will end up being second parents, helping to take care of the youngest one, which should not be a kid job... so no, they are not the good guys. they suck.
Load More Replies... I think a lot of the upset comments are from people mis-reading and thinking they live like this (plus some from the professionally/perennially upset). But you can't make it much longer & still drive, so it's that or tents. Also a kid weighs much less, so much thinner mattress will do; and a kid that slept badly is just grouchy while a parent that missed their night is a danger on the road. Can't believe I'm defending a pair of fundamentalist hormonal rabbits but there you go.
I about choked reading last line. Best thing I've read all week.
Load More Replies... It's not permanent, it's a fun adventure. These kids will remember it fondly and will likely do this with their own kids. And kids are more resilient than adults, a week on hard-wood floors will not cause permanent damage, if any.
Maybe I am not reading correctly - but is this temporary? "Living in" instead of vacationing or traveling in the wording is confusing me but aren't they going to NY?
I was confused as well. For a road trip once in a while, fine. I've slept on the floor of a tent as a kid, it was fine. Living like this, nope.
Load More Replies... Why do so many people think that having big families is inherently evil? Just because sometimes it doesn’t work doesn’t mean that always happens. It really has more to do with the environment and parenting style than just the number of siblings. Besides, all these kids seem to have plenty of room, and sleeping on the floor can be fun for a few days. Yeah, they’re sharing a bed, but they don’t have opposite genders sharing and I would assume several of the girls share a room at home too. The parents’ bed did seem a little big compared to the rest, but I expect that’s probably just due to the width of the trailer and the storage around it. They probably couldn’t have fit another person in the space left over. Also, some of the younger kids might want to crawl in with their parents at some point. So the larger bed makes sense. I just don’t see why this family is getting so much hate for going on a vacation together quite comfortably.
I think people are reacting badly because there’s a certain cult “religious” sect in the US that promotes having as many children as possible among other more nefarious practices and this family has a lot of the hallmarks of that cult.
Load More Replies... I don't get the fake outrage on this subject. They're traveling as a family, pretty awesome thing right there. The kids sleep all whichaway including on the floor, so what. They share a small space with one toilet for a week, so what. If anyone is bothered by this they really need to get out of their first world comfort zone and live a little. As for the family's religious focus, not anyones business but theirs, that said, I'm glad they were aware enough to leave their fundi church when the pedos showed up.
I don't get all this judging. It's a couple of days on a trip, not a lifetime! I sometimes have to send my kids to sleep in their beds because they want to sleep on the floor on a blanket. In their room. Kids can sleep anywhere. And I am sure some if them end up in their parents ' bed by the morning. And yeap, when you go camping you all sleep on the floor. I mean we do. Only the baby gets a proper camp-crib.
If they lived like this full time it might be more concerning, but it sounds like this is temporary, like for vacation travels? Kids sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor/hard ground all the time at sleepovers or while camping. They have pillows. They'll be fine. People are getting all judgey and mad over things that aren't all that serious. They have a clean, safe looking travel trailer/RV and all the kids look like they're having a nice time. I used to go camping as a kid all the time, or sleepover at friends'/cousins' with just a pillow and blanket. My son has his choice of two beds in his room, foam toppers all that, and half the time I find him sprawled on the floor passed out with a pillow and a blanket. It's really not a big deal.
When do the teens do teen stuff???? They can't even masturbate in peace.
Is masturbating supposed to be a universal teen thing? Pretty sure a large portion of the population doesn’t actually do that very much if at all.
Load More Replies... It's a four day trip, they will be fine! The only problem I see is they don't have sleeping mats for those on the floor.
People need to get a grip. Mind your business. It's a road trip not their housing. Kids all look healthy, happy, and well cared for. How many of us as kid fell asleep on the floor watching TV and parents left us there?? People need to remember kids are resilient af. They can sleep just about any where and in the craziest position. For those talking about the amount of kids they have.. why do you care?? Are you paying to raise them. Some people need reminder of golden rule we learned as children. If you don't have nothing nice to say. Don't say anything at all
They are all safe inside an Airstream ffs. Better than sleeping in a tent on the ground. I'm sure the people complaining about it has never gone camping without a comfy mattress of some sort. Smh. Plenty of families out there sleeping on floors without beds but god forbid a family travels without one. Last I checked kids can sleep pretty much anywhere. Plus the article says the kids rotate so it's not the same ones on the floor. None of the children look unhappy, unfed or unkempt so what's the big deal?
What's wrong with kids sleeping on the floor? I used to camp out in the living room floor on the weekends when I was a kid. It was awesome! Movie nights and popcorn! Camping in a tent you're sleeping on the ground. Kids seem happy. They're more limber. I haven't slept on the floor since my hips grew in during puberty. Kids are limber, adults, not so much. Mom said she was nursing, understandable. It's not like they're living in the trailer full time. That's a different story.
It's not as if they live in the trailer full time, it's only a trip for a few days.
Yeah I guess people could get upset at this, but sometimes kids love stuff like this. We went camping a lot and slept outside on the ground. My kids often decide to sleep on the floor because they find it comfortable. Many people live in poverty worse than this. I think it's a bit rough, but it's a weird thing to get outraged about.
Aren't babies supposed to sleep on their backs? That's my only take on this. Clearly this is for travelling. People bitching about the kid's sleeping arrangements yet people will take their families camping and have them sleep in a tent on the ground, with no cushioning, other than whatever is soft in the sleeping bag and a pillow. I'm sure everyone gets some private time to get dressed. Again, it's travelling for a short time. They're not strangers. If they have a really good family dynamic and it works out for them then whatever. They wouldn't get criticism if they didn't share it for the world to scrutinize. In fact, they should keep their kids off the internet. Too many weirdos and pedos out there.
Babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep, but once they have the muscle control to roll themselves over its OK to let them sleep however they position themselves.
Load More Replies... I love all the comments about kids sleeping on the floor. Have these people never had kids? Google pictures of kids sleeping and there are hundreds of them with kids not only sleeping in weird places, but in just bizarre positions. I guess those parents hate their kids too. And for those throwing conniptions about kids sleeping on the floor- what do you think they use in most daycares for nap time? Or in schools that have nap time for younger kids? Y'all either don't have kids, are ignorant, or are just professional griefers that don't have a life. Maybe a bit of each. I bet if y'all posted a segment of your life, you too would be torn to shreds by complete strangers. Live and let live. Their kids are happy, healthy, and are apparently getting their parents attention and love (three kids accepted in to Julliard and all are under the age of 13). Music is a skill that while some may have an inborn talent, needs to be worked at and cultivated. Not to mention this move if for their kids.
Meh, you cannot be a good parent to ten kids at a time. I assume at least one of them has a job. Kids need attention, not a family band.
It's ½ a week idk y some people r acting like it's permanent. It's not great tho. And of course the parents get the massive bed or the kids WILL fight over it... But tbf some of the kids do have beds. Idk anymore
Sorry, this is completely unrelated but I recently also found out I'm AroAce and I use the exact same pronouns!! :D
Load More Replies... i mean... it's literally just for trips, it's not like they live there full time. that being said, i would recommend foam sleeping pads or something, the floor doesn't look too comfy.
Okay, I know the Bible says, "Be fruitful and multiply," but there were only like 5 million people on the planet when they wrote that. God says give it a rest already!
I just....can't....get over that two of the children sleep on the floor.
I sleep on the floor anytime my family goes camping, and used to sleep on my bedroom floor every summer because it was too hot in my loft bed. Floors are nice sometimes. And they have sleeping bags, so it’s not like there isn’t any padding.
Load More Replies... Apparently many people didn't actually READ the article. They're not living in the Airstream, they're using it in place of hotels or camping in a tent WHILE MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. Geez people, get a f*cking grip.
When me and my brothers were kids we had our own beds in our own rooms and we always wanted to sleep out in the living room we'd grab our blanket and pillow and fall asleep right on the carpet floor so I don't think it's that big of a deal
White people problems much... Literally majority of humanity has slept on floor or other hard surface, for some time of their life at least. Kids, being lighter, don't necessarily notice it that much either, I at least was at a sleepover as a kid, and we made a bed out of an old cotton duvet on the floor, when there was a perfectly fine bed available. It just seemed more fun I guess, like camping.
So I probably shouldn't tell you about the couple of nights vacation one February where my kids were in a tent at 1degC and I was in a glamping shepherd's hut with a bed then?
Moving from San Francisco to Harlem, that's going to be quite the culture shock. Plus I have no idea how they're going to fit 12 people in a NYC apartment. The trailer might be bigger. Either way, they need to ditch the 'multiply for Jesus' mentality and start using birth control.
of course mom and dad are the only people with an actual normal sized human bed
It’s still a pretty small bed, just maybe a bit larger to allow for less flexible joints. Also maybe photo angle plays a part.
Load More Replies... 12 kids? Irresponsible! + I'd like to know where are the children when the parents decide to "make" the next one.
If they were camping they would be on the hard ground. I slept like this for years, by choice. No kid should whine over this.
So, I was molested by my cousin and also by my uncle who was only a few years older than me. So, this sleeping situation worries me. I was molested by my cousin from the age 8-10 and then my uncle from 7-10.
Why is it always Christians that breed like rabbits! We are way overpopulated to begin with. We sure as hell don't need this practice.
Just as an observation, I’ve heard of lots of huge families from India or Southeast Asia that sometimes have over a hundred kids (multiple wives). And yet Christians get the large family stereotype.
Load More Replies... This family reminds me of 19 kids and county where these kids are home schooled . There is no room for these kids to do anything and be a kid. They need to be around other kids or have more room like a RV
Birth Control is a thing that exists I can't stand these Quiverful fundies.
This is an environmental disaster, WAY TOO MANY KIDS, pull out for God sake
It’s family dynamics that make or break how people remember these things and my experiences had no positives. No exaggeration. It’s hard for me to look at fundies and understand where they’re coming from- Where does the Bible say anything about dowdy skirts, unstyled hair, plaid shirts for boys? Is one verse about a man’s quiver sufficient to cram so many people into a family? While these families appear happy, connected & faithful while young I hope they make room for doubts, then acceptance when some leave the faith. (It’s not college that does it- that may be when they finally say the words.) Maybe they’ll figure out how to have large happy families be 6 and there will be fewer parentified elder children. Maybe they’ll see they can look back fondly on family trips with a 24’ trailer, not 30’.
I mean, this is just irresponsible parenting. No way around it. Many adults choose to live this way, and thats fine, but I guarantee these children would rather have a bed if given the choice.
Sleeping on a hard floor for a night or two is one thing but this appears to be a long term set up. The kids on the floor need bed pads or air mattresses. The fact that the parents have a cozy bed and no concern for two of their children bothers me immensely.
It’s for as long as it takes to drive from SF to NYC, which is probably around a week or so. And I’m sure the parents’ bed isn’t actually that cozy. Besides, later on in the article it said that the kids sometimes swap sleeping spots for variety.
Load More Replies... Disgusting. Those children are going to grow up to real f****d up adults.
Maybe stop having so many kids and get an actual house with rooms for your kids so they have a normal place to sleep instead of the FLOOR.
They have an apartment in NYC. This is just for a trip - I camp with my kids and they sleep on the ground in tents with sleeping bags. It’s part of the experience.
Load More Replies... For camping this can be fun for extremely young children, but these kids are too old. They want independence and privacy. Now, let's talk about the kids. This planet is dying, we can barely sustain ourselves, yet people like this just breed breed breed and breed again. Is that why the parents have a bed and the kids don't? Religious zealots I swear are trying to destroy us all.
They are on a road trip of less than a week. They have an apartment in NYC. You've never slept on the floor for a sleepover?
Load More Replies... They are on a road trip. They don't live there, just travelling for a few days
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