9 children
Residence: Carignan (Chambly)
Mother: Melanie Girard (35 years old)
Father: Patrice Lapointe (39 years old)
Status: Ended family
Children: Félix (14 years old), Lily-Mai (12 years old), Émile (10 years old), Xavier (9 years old), Éloïc (8 years old), Clovis (6 years old), Sarah-Jade (5 years old), Emma -Rose (4 years), Anne-Flavie (20 months)
The Lapointe-Girard family is very organized. Meals, home school, chores, activities, everything needs to be sorted out. Caring for nine children aged 0 to 14 with a truck driving father Tuesday to Saturday is quite a task.
“Fortunately, my parents live at home with us,” explains Mélanie Girard. With my spouse [Patrice] Anyone who works helps me with that.”
Must say that the mother is not afraid of work. Early in the morning she is at the summit for lunch and after that she takes off her apron to put on the teacher’s suit.
As in the days of Émilie Bordeleau in Les Filles de Caleb, she teaches several subjects from primary to secondary school.
“That was three years ago and I don’t regret my choice,” says the mother, who doesn’t force anything on her six school-age children. We ask them and if they want to go to a civilian school, we will respect their choice.
4000 $ per month
It is up to the grandparents to buy groceries.
On Sunday, when the fridge and pantry are full, the mother of the family begins to prepare meals for the week.
Lunch, dinner and even snacks like muffins and granola bars are prepared ahead of time. “Purchasing products that are processed as little as possible is a great way to save money,” says Mélanie Girard.
Despite everything, the explosion in food prices has significantly increased the family budget, which greatly worries the lady of the house.
Over the past year, it’s at least $1,000 more a month for groceries on a bill that tops $4,000 a month.
“Before, I was okay with $750, but now I can’t get through my week on $750. In the gang I have there, I need three chickens to feed everyone for a single meal,” she gives as an example.
cloth diapers
Mélanie Girard stops at nothing and even uses washable diapers. A choice that allows the family to save while making an ecological gesture.
However, this task adds to the long list of things to do with nine children in the cabin.
“That’s four loads of laundry a day, but with diapers it can be up to six,” says the mother. And it goes without saying that the clothesline is an indispensable piece of equipment in summer.
As an only child, the 35-year-old mother always wanted to have a large family.
“I wanted 10. I said to myself: If I have children, they won’t be alone,” she recalls.
She doesn’t regret her choice, especially not at Christmas time. New Year’s Eve is all about music at the Lapointe-Girard.
Grandpa takes out the guitar. We dance, we sing, we laugh and we give each other gifts. As was tradition, at a certain time “in our old houses”, as La Bottine Souriante would say.
how much per week
4
Peanut Butter Jars
fifteen
toilet paper rolls
Money Saving Tips
couponing
Create a detailed budget
Buy gifts in advance
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