Tran Ngoc Anh (born 1988, Hanoi) gained online fame for her journey of raising five children, earning admiration from many. She and her husband, high school sweethearts, married young with hopes of starting a family and enjoying the joy of children.

Anh previously thought three kids would be enough. Yet, after her first child was born in 2007, she went on to have four more. Her children are Nguyen Khuong Duy (born 2007), Nguyen Nhu Y (born 2009), Nguyen Tran Bao An (born 2013), Nguyen Tran Phuc An (born 2017), and Nguyen Cat Tuong (born 2020).

Raising five children has been far from easy. But since their births, the family has been joyful, filled with laughter. Life is always busy, but to Anh, her children are a gift from heaven, a blessing for her and her husband.

After her first delivery, Anh gave birth four more times, each with the same intense emotions as the first. “No matter how much pain, I had to lift my head to see my baby’s face, check if they were healthy, before I could lie back and rest,” she recalled.

The toughest period was likely when their third child was born. The baby was a picky eater, underweight, and diagnosed with malnutrition. Anh juggled caring for the child, stressing over her busy sales job, and managing household chores.

“At the same time, our eldest son hit his ‘rebellious’ phase, glued to his phone, mumbling all sorts of things that frustrated us. Once, he called his dad into his room, worried, saying, ‘Dad, I’ve been playing video games too much; something’s wrong with me, I can’t stop talking.’ It broke my heart,” Anh recounted.

Because of the son’s problems, the couple couldn’t sleep. They were angrier at themselves than at their son. Anh realized she had never taught the son what to do to improve. Luckily, he recognized his issue and sought help from his parents.

At that moment, she discovered she was pregnant with her fourth child. “I felt like I was collapsing. The pressure was overwhelming—our youngest wasn’t stable, our eldest needed guidance, and now a new life? I even considered abortion. Raising kids isn’t the hardest part; it’s guiding, listening, understanding, and leading each one that’s the real challenge.”

When the fourth child was born, the baby cried for months. Anh’s husband worked from 6am to midnight, leaving her to manage the shop alone as they couldn’t afford staff.

Those days were truly tough for Anh. “Looking back, that was when I hit my physical and emotional limits. But at those weakest moments, I learned to be stronger, to mother not just with my heart but with reason and resilience,” she recalled.

In hardship, she realized having older kids help their younger siblings was effective, easing the parents’ burden while helping the children mature.

“I still vividly remember my second daughter, just starting fourth grade, diligently holding and bathing her younger sibling, teaching the youngest to read. Seeing her gently and skillfully hold her tiny sibling, my husband and I were so moved,” Anh said.

As each child grew, they naturally took on similar responsibilities. The third child taught the fourth to bathe and fold clothes; the second daughter taught the youngest the alphabet; the 18-year-old is preparing for university exams, and the 16-year-old sister is working on her English certification, both already independent.

Her children are now enjoying their summer holiday. It is time for kids to swim, box, and bike to reduce phone time. Despite their busy schedules, Anh’s husband manages all the kids’ class schedules.

Mornings are a whirlwind, with the couple calling out names, schedules, and times to keep the kids on track. The older ones manage themselves, while the younger ones get dad’s help.

Each summer, Anh ensures the kids have one or two trips for memorable experiences.

“People who see me on the street are often shocked by how many kids I have. Some think they’re my nieces or nephews, not believing I have five children. Some even ask my daughter, ‘Is this really your mom?’ probably because I’m petite and look younger than my age,” she joked.

Asked about the cost of raising five kids, Anh said it’s impossible to quantify. “Raising kids today isn’t just about food and clothes like before. It’s tutoring, extracurriculars, skill development, and intangibles like time, emotional support, and guidance,” she explained.

Tu Linh