A MOTHER has opened up on being pregnant for seven years straight with six boys.
Lay Shanise, who has five kids with her husband Isaiah, is currently pregnant with her sixth child – another son.
But as a result of their bumper brood, the couple have been told to “give it a rest” and have been criticised as “selfish” by haters.
Revealing all to Truly on a recent episode of My Extraordinary Family, Lay, who is mother to Zaylin, seven, Zyheir, six, Zacari, four, Zyan, two, and Zamir, one, with another little boy on the way, got candid on facing judgement online.
Lay, who unapologetically owns the titles of “homemaker” and “tradwife,” said: “I’ve been pregnant with six boys for seven years.
“People have judged us for having so many children so quickly.”
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Not only have Lay and Isaiah been criticised and accused of “breeding,” but the hate has previously been so bad that the mum-of-five decided to keep her last son’s pregnancy a secret.
She added: “Since I’ve started social media, I’ve got quite a few negative comments about my choice to have children so close in age and then to have so many of them.
“People make it seem like kids are the worst thing.
“With my last son I hid his pregnancy till six months – I was just so ashamed because of things people say about me and the way people would look at me with all my children.”
But while Lay used to struggle with the hate, she has now learnt to take it on the chin, as she continued: “[The comments] are funny to me.
“It really doesn’t affect me in any way.”
To this, Isaiah chimed in: “You could have 15 kids, as long as every last kid is loved and taken care of, the numbers shouldn’t even matter.
With my last son I hid his pregnancy till six months – I was just so ashamed because of things people say about me and the way people would look at me with all my children
Lay Shanise
“I don’t regret any of this.”
Big divide
YouTube users were left stunned by Lay and Isaiah’s story and many were divided by their decision to have such a large family.
One user gushed: “I love this for them. They seem to be great parents and a great family.”
What is a trad wife?
A trad wife (short for traditional wife) is a woman who chooses to take on an ultra traditional role in marriage, meaning she makes dinner and looks pretty whilst her husband goes to work.
The trend takes inspiration from the idea of a 1950s housewife.
Many ‘trad wives’ choose to dress in the style of clothing popular in this period (think floral dresses and frumpy cardigans).
Additionally, the values considered important to trad wives are similar to strict Christian values.
Trad wives believed they were not forced into this way of life, and that it was their purpose to be homemakers.
The trend, which has garnered attention on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, glamorises a time gone by with little acknowledgement of the economic challenges facing families and mothers today.
A second chimed in: “If they can afford more children, treat them good, love them and raise them happy and healthy, God bless them let them be!”
Whilst someone else beamed: “They are GREAT parents! I wish them an abundance of blessings!!!”
After a certain amount of kids, it becomes selfish. There’s no way two adults can care for that many kids
YouTube user
But at the same time, trolls were out in full force and weren’t totally impressed.
One person said: “No more kids. Pregnancy isn’t easy on the body or the mother. It’s scary that they are back to back.”
Another hater added: “You guys need a new hobby.”
Meanwhile, a third fumed: “After a certain amount of kids, it becomes selfish. There’s no way two adults can care for that many kids. So eventually the oldest become default parents.”
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