Eight is great for the McCaughey septuplets

Ann Curry • Profile

As the sun sets, the Science Center of Iowa closes to the public and opens for private slumber parties.

On this evening, the visitors, invited by “Dateline,” are a famous family of ten: parents, Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey, eldest daughter, Mikayla, her three sisters Alexis, Natalie, Kelsey, and four brothers, Kenny, Brandon, Joel, and Nathan. All are incredibly curious and excited to explore. 

Now in second-grade, divided among seven classrooms at Carlisle Elementary School—these eight year-olds are starting to understand what it means to be the world’s only set of living septuplets.

Kelsey, for one, enjoys the attention.

Ann Curry, Dateline correspondent: So what do you think about being a septuplet?

Kelsey: It’s good.

Curry: Do people ever say anything about it or ask you questions, besides me?

Kelsey: They say, I know you’re the septuplets. You’re so sweet and lovely and very kind to each other.

Curry: People say that?

Kelsey: And sometimes they give us treats.

Given the unusual “treats” here, we had a feeling these “Jimmy Neutrons” would be experimenting long into the night...

The hours from dawn until dusk, yielded a field report on how this unique family has progressed in the past year — especially Nathan, one of two septuplets who suffer from cerebral palsy. He’s made remarkable strides in the 14 months since he had spinal surgery to help him walk.

Within a half-hour of arrival, little Kenny cut loose, as he has ever since he first snuck out of the house alone at age three. Tonight, he stumbled into a puppet theater. After the show, he revealed a mouthful of news.

Curry: You lost four of your baby teeth?

Kenny: These two ones. And I lost two at the bottom. I got money from them.

Curry: How much money do you have right now?

Kenny: I have 30 cents.

Curry: That’s good. That’s a start.

In an exhibit called “Who Are We?” Natalie was fascinated by an “aging machine." Call it maturity, or just a mood. Her goals have changed since we last spoke.

Curry: Are you thinking about not being a doctor at this time?

Natalie: I don’t want to be a doctor. 

Curry: You don’t?  Why not?

Natalie: I wanna be a mom.

Curry: Do you wanna be a mom who has septuplets?

Natalie:  (shakes head no)

Curry: No?!

Bobbi, of course, understands why Natalie does not aspire to be the mother of septuplets.

Bobbi McCaughey, septuplets' mother: Sometimes, it’s the best job in the world. Sometimes, it’s a job I wouldn’t wish on anybody else.

Around the time they’d normally be down for the night, everyone was as wired as the high-tech exhibits.

Courtesy of the Ladies Home Journal How do you get seven 8-year-olds ready for holiday photos? The siblings grace the cover of  a December magazine.

Though it may seem dizzying, in some ways, Bobbi says, parenting the septuplets is getting easier. The kids are increasingly self-sufficient. Now, each earns a dollar a week for helping with chores such as laundry, meals, and tidying up. But Kelsey says her mom is still always on the go.

Kelsey: I say, ‘Mommy, you better stop working cause your face is getting really red.’

Curry: She’s got a lot to do, doesn’t she? She mows the yard?

Kelsey: The whole yard even the backyard. She’s trying to keep our house clean, you know she doesn’t want it really messy.

Curry: Kelsey says you work too hard sometimes and your face gets really red.

Bobbi: Well, when it’s 90 degrees outside...

Curry: And you’re mowing the lawn?

Bobbi: Yes, or hanging laundry.

Curry: She thinks you shouldn’t work too hard.

Bobbi: Well, I’ll have to add a few more chores to her list then!  (laughter)

Homeschooling and battle of the sexes
But it is Bobbi’s “to do” list that has gotten longer.

The septuplets’ older sister, 10-year-old Mikayla, decided she preferred being home schooled by her mom, after spending fourth grade in public school. Much as she liked her classmates, Mikayla missed having someone special all to herself.

Mikayla, septuplets older sister: Home schooling this year will get my mom’s attention for me again.

Curry: There was a time when it was really hard for you to have so many brothers and sisters.

Mikayla: It’s better now that they’re older and they understand more.

Her room is still her sanctuary—to the dismay of Brandon, the would-be “army man,” whose mission has long been to infiltrate it.

Brandon: Mikayla, my big sister, never lets the boys get to go in her room. She always just lets the girls.

Curry: Maybe if you asked her nicely just once.

Brandon: I do ask, but she says no all the time.

Curry: Hmmm, do the girls ever play with you?

Brandon: We like to fight.

Curry: You like to fight with the girls?

Brandon: Yeah.

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