Sextuplets ready for TV close-up
The Columbus Dispatch Saturday December 15, 2012 10:13 AM
A day before their reality-show debut on the Oprah Winfrey cable network with interviews and commitments stacked up Mia and Rozonno McGhee still made time for date night.
The Gahanna-area couple, who in 2010 made national news (and first attracted Winfreys attention) after Mia gave birth to sextuplets, caught a showing yesterday of The Hobbit.
Tonight, with Six Little McGhees set to premiere, theyll host a viewing party for family members and friends at their home.
Talk about busy.
We try to spend as much time with our kids as possible, said Mia, 32, who left a job at Chase to care for the family full time. But we have a list of people we can call if we need a break."
She and Rozonno, 33, who owns a carpet-cleaning company, met as students at Linden-McKinley High School.
Fertility drugs after a miscarriage ultimately led to the bulging brood: Elijah, Issah, Josiah, Madison, Olivia and Rozonno Jr.
Six Little McGhees, a seven-part docu-series, provides a glimpse into the familys hectic, loving home life.
The couple spoke to The Dispatch yes! terday about the show:
Q: How are the children? Everyone doing OK?
Mia: Oh, my gosh, yes they are all healthy. With them being born three months early, were dealing with them being three months delayed. They werent walking with their birth age; their speech. We still have that.
Rozonno: The terrible twos is where we are. They love saying no. They want to be independent. Theyre their own little people times six.
Q: What was your reaction to the idea of being filmed?
Mia: In the beginning, I just thought: No. My life is going to be really crazy already, just trying to raise six babies.
Being on the Oprah show in 2011, we received an overwhelming response from viewers on how inspiring and encouraging we are. That made us want to tell our story further.
Q: How did the kids react to camera crews in the house?
Rozonno: There werent that many cameras three at the most. They werent there 24 hours a day. It showed more of us working, taking care of the family.
Mia: At first, they looked at the cameras and thought it was strange. But were used to having people around. Weve had a lot of helpers.
Q: What are your favorite onscreen moments?
Mia: I loved our trip to the Columbus Zoo. That was their first time going. That was very, very special. The birthday party was awesome fun, chaotic, trying to balance everything I do on a normal basis.
Rozonno: On Mothers Day, I cooked breakfast for Mia. I was really excited.
Q: Given other reality-TV histories, do you worry about life taking a negative turn as seen with the Gosselin family of Jon & Kate Plus 8?
Mia: With Jon and Kate, of course, I dont know them personally. My husband and I were married 10 years before we had any kids. We were friends. We built a solid relationship.
Rozonno: We shared our dreams with each other. One of them was having a big family. Were here now and were truly, truly happy.
Q: So, whats Oprah like?
Rozonno: She is an awesome lady. She ! really in! spires me to continue to go on.
Mia: Shes not afraid of being who she is. The two times we met, she was down-to-earth, just herself and I love that.
Q: What might couples and parents raising any number of children learn from your experience?
Rozonno: You cant build a house by yourself. It truly takes more than one person. Surround yourself with positive people.
Sometimes, I think I know it all and I really dont. Whenever we work as a team, it all comes together perfectly. The only way our children will know were being sincere is through love.
Mia: With the kids, juggling everything, we have our ups and downs. We choose to stay together. I think everybody whos married has to make that decision. A disagreement is not going to outweigh our marriage.
kjoy@dispatch.com