Joyfulness of a large family

High FIVE: The Chee-rful Life of a Big Family

The Chee family, led by Jansen Chee and Geraldine Chung, both 40, packs love, laughs, and a lot of energy into their family of seven. And, is proof to us all that large families can mean larger doses of love, fun and joy.

We sat down with the mother of the Chee brood, Geraldine, to get an inside look into what it’s like to have five kids in tow.

Meet the Miracle Cheeklets

"I used to hope for a large family when I was a child," says Geraldine, an estate manager. "I'm adopted, and I wanted to have a family of my own."

That childhood wish stayed quietly with her as she journeyed into adulthood—and the journey turned out to be filled with surprises. Today, Geraldine and her husband Jansen, a software engineer, are parents to five children aged 4 to 12.

Known fondly among friends and family as the 'Cheeklets' (a play on their surname, Chee), the couple sees each child as a blessing they had not expected to receive. After all, doctors told the couple early on that conceiving would be difficult.

"We did intrauterine insemination (IUI) for the first two pregnancies, and then got pregnant naturally" Geraldine shares.

“I thought we’d stop at three,” she adds. “But somehow, life had other plans.”

Each child, Geraldine says, came with their own story. “The first was because we wanted a child. The second was to give the first a sibling. But pregnancy number two came with a surprise number three — twins! The fourth was a miracle we didn’t expect. And number five... well, apparently lightning can strike twice.”

"When I found out I was pregnant with our fifth, Jansen was so shocked he yelled, 'You've got to be kidding me!'" 

Looking back, Geraldine laughs, “He (our fifth child) is truly one of the most beautiful surprises we’ve ever had.”

Jansen didn’t always picture himself having a big family, but knew how important family was to Geraldine. And they’ve both come to embrace the joy of a house full of kids.

Now, neither of them can imagine life any other way.

Everyone Chips In

Life in the Chee household starts at 5.30am. Geraldine prepares lunch boxes (a clever way to make sure the kids eat healthy while saving costs) while Jansen wakes the kids. Geraldine then handles the morning school run—and these drives are about more than just transport.

"The moments in the car are extremely precious. That's when I hear all their little stories," says Geraldine, who shares that she and Jansen make an intentional effort to carve out snippets of time for each of their kids.

After the school drop-offs, Geraldine heads to the office most mornings and works from home in the afternoons except for one full day at home each week. Jansen, whose company is based in the US, has a more flexible arrangement and often works remotely. Together, they tap on Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA) to make the daily juggle of pick-ups, drop-offs, and everything in between possible.

In addition, the couple find pockets of time to recharge.

"We take turns to make sure we get some 'me-time’ to unwind. We planned it this way," Geraldine adds.

Jansen heads to the gym about four times a week, while Geraldine makes time for her own workouts, classes, and occasional meetups with friends. These small windows of personal time help them get refreshed and ready to jump back into family life.

At home, the whole family chips in. "They clean their own rooms, wash their own cutlery... We nag a lot, but these are good life lessons to learn."

The couple also entrusts responsibilities to the children.

"My eldest boy is the boss. His sister is second-in-command. They guide the younger ones, and even warn them about punishments," Geraldine laughs. "And when one gets scolded, the older ones will comfort them and even explain what went wrong."

Dinner Is Sacred

"I cook dinner daily because I want us to gather for at least one meal,” explains Geraldine. “It's noisy, but it’s our time."

The kids help too. All five Chee kids have been taught how to cook, and mealtimes usually turn into team efforts in the kitchen.

There's plenty of humour around mealtimes. Geraldine quips, "They're like baby birds. When they smell the food, the foodie ones will suddenly appear in the kitchen to sniff and find out what's cooking."

And once everyone’s gathered at the table, they’re chatting, teasing and tucking in to the very meal they helped prepare.

Making Memories Together

Weekends are for the real VIPs—grandparents. Between enrichment classes, the couple makes sure the kids get to hang out with their doting grandparents on both sides.

And what about entertainment? The Chee-s keep it simple, cost-effective and meaningful.

"The kids love strolling in the park and watching chickens in the neighbourhood. They ask a lot of questions,” said Geraldine. “It's not about spending money. It's about making priceless memories they’ll remember." 

Celebrating Each Child

With five kids, one-on-one time is precious. Geraldine takes leave on their birthdays to spend a day with each child. The children also choose their own co-curricular activities, and the couple pays attention to each of their likes, dislikes, and habits.

She shared, "Jansen and I accept them for who they are. We don't want to force them to fit the mould expected of them in today's society, but develop based on their strengths and interests.  When our kids realised we are on their side, they started talking to us about everything."

For example, her eldest is preparing for his PSLE and dreams of getting into his ideal secondary school. Geraldine is honest with him about the effort it will take. With daily tuition and frequent daily nagging, he's giving it his best shot. "Whenever he feels overwhelmed, he still comes to me for hugs," Geraldine adds. "I'm just glad he trusts me enough to share how he feels, and knows we're behind him all the way."

No Regrets, Just Cheeklets!

Strangers often stare when the Chee family walks into a restaurant. "You can see them mentally counting," Geraldine shares. "Their eyes widen when they realise the kids are all mine. It makes me smile every time."

Any regrets about choosing this big family path? "I used to be jealous of friends who could go out as and when they want, travel on a whim, and have fun. But looking back, I have no regrets. My children are my adventure, and it’s an ongoing and everyday adventure!"

Geraldine's advice is simple for couples wondering if they can handle a bigger family: "Don't worry too much about finances. Children just need simple things. The key is being present and creating memories together, which will make it all worthwhile."

And perhaps the most grounded reflection of all, "It's humbling. Children make you see what you take for granted."

Published in Apr 2025