SINGLE PARENT

Mum-of-quintuplets says it’s ‘impossible to raise eight kids and not lose each other’ as she reveals marriage split

A MUM-OF-QUINTUPLETS has opened up about the end of her marriage, admitting it's "impossible to raise eight kids and not lose each other".

Writing for Mamamia, Kim Tucci said her relationship with Vaughn, dad to seven of her kids, was put under strain by the pressure of raising eight kids.

The 31-year-old, from Perth, Australia, was a mum-of-three when she and Vaughn decided to try for "one more kid" - and ended up with surprise quintuplets.

Born in January 2016, the quintuplets are one boy, Keith, and four girls - Ali, Penelope, Tiffany and Beatrix.

Kim is also mum to Kurt, 13, from a previous relationship and daughters Ava, nine, and Indiana, seven, with Vaughn.

Opening up about their split to Mamamia, Kim said: "It’s impossible to raise eight kids and not lose each other in the process...

"Vaughn and I were passing ships in the night. We shared a home but we lost each other over the years through the tears and stress of raising so many little people."

Kim, who was 19 when their relationship began, added: "The dynamic in a household changes when children are brought into the equation. It takes so much more effort to meet in the middle."

Kim announced the split on Instagram a week ago, admitting: "The last couple of months have been one of the most difficult times I have ever endured.

"I have had to learn to put my happiness first and that was a really hard lesson to learn."

She added: "Marriage is hard when children come along, it’s hard not to lose each other in-process and at times two people can really outgrow a relationship and the only way forward is in separate directions.

"Yes, it’s sad to close this chapter in our life but in all honesty I’m looking forward to the unknown element of my future.

"I really lost myself over the last few years, I didn’t know my own place in life and I was so uncertain about who I was...

"I put way too much pressure on myself to be a good mum, wife and keep an immaculate home.

"I wanted everyone around me to be happy but inside I was crumbling and the cracks where certainly starting to show."

Writing for Mamamia, Kim said she and Vaughn will continue to co-parent their brood and insists she has nothing but love and respect for him.

Earlier today, a heartbroken mum revealed her daughter, five, survived 800 rounds of chemo, lost her hair – then was bullied for ‘looking like a boy’.