But the Albion mother of nine says she enjoys having her tribe at home.

Mr and Mrs Svendsen's children are Libby, 22, Jarryd, 20, Owen, 17, Daniel, 14, Braedan, 13, Victoria, 10, Hannah, 8, Marcus, 7, and Cameron, 6.

So, as your two or three children head back to school this week, spare a thought for Mrs Svendsen.

Her day begins when husband Peter wakes her up on his way to work about 7.30am. By this time, the two children who attend high school are taking their showers.

As well as helping the younger children get ready, Mrs Svendsen makes at the least seven lunches and manages to get all six children still in school at the gate by 9am.

Then it's home to start the first of six loads of washing for the day.

"It probably seems strange to others, but I just love it; I love all my kids and we have a routine so things go smoothly," she said.

Mr and Mrs Svendsen agree: it's between 4 and 8pm that the house turns into "organised bedlam".

Taking the children to sports, supervising homework, cooking 10 dinners [one of the children has recently moved out], sorting out arguments and choosing who is watching what on television ... that's what makes them the busiest hours of the day.

The family spends more than $400 a week on food. It has three laptops, a desktop computer and five television sets in the house. And they all manage to keep to the State Government's recommended 155 litres of water consumption per person.

Mrs Svendsen says there are some great things about having a big family. "They look after each other and are all sharing and caring people. There's always going to be someone to look after me in my old age."

Naturally, a big challenge is dealing with so many teenagers.

While the family does not operate on a roster, Mrs Svendsen expects everyone to chip in and help.

"Everyone has to do something, whether its setting the table or doing the dishes, and they all have to keep their rooms clean and put their washing out." So, are there more babies on the horizon for Mr and Mrs Svendsen? "No," they reply in unison.