Sarah and her family spend time in the yard on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2022 in Excelsior Springs. “I love my kids more than anything in the world,” Sarah said.
Sarah Robbins, 32, is the glue that keeps her family together. With five kids ranging from 9 months to 14 years old, she is constantly doing the best to keep order in their tightly-packed mobile home. She goes from changing diapers one moment, to dealing with a teenager being suspended from school the next. AJ, Sarah’s fiancé of eight years, recently returned to the workforce, which means that Sarah is shouldering more of the parental responsibilities at home. Sarah deals with trauma from her ex-partner who fathered her two teenage sons, while also suffering from postpartum depression following the birth of her youngest nine months ago. “I’ve lived a long life,” Sarah said. And with this, Sarah vows to protect her kids the best she can. “My kids are my life, I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for them.”
Sarah and her family make a stop during their daily walk to admire the corn snake of family friend Tim. Dozens of pets share the mobile home with Sarah and her family, which includes a dog, cat, a chicken and fish.
Sarah and her 8-year fiancé AJ look towards the street at one of their children as AJ replaces the alternator. The couple have three children together: a 4-year-old son, a 2-year-old daughter, and a 9-month-old son.
Sarah rolls out a tricycle for her 2-year-old daughter Freighlyn before the family goes on their daily walk around the block. The mother of five has children ranging from 9 months to 14 years.
Sarah and AJ watch as their kids, from left, Freighlyn, Killian and Hagan, play on their front porch. Before having children together, Sarah and AJ were homeless for two years, living in cars and in the wilderness near the Missouri River.
Hagan, 4, finds a snack as his mother Sarah looks to Freighlyn and nurses Killian. Earlier that day, the family received their food stamp benefits for the month, so Sarah was able to make a homemade meatloaf for dinner.
Sarah combs the hair of her daughter Freighlyn. After her fifth child, Sarah said she was done having kids and feels guilty that her daughter will not have a baby sister.
Sarah talks to her daughter Freighlyn.
Sarah holds Killian as he falls asleep in her arms. Sarah has been experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression since the birth of her youngest child nine months ago.
Sarah takes a moment to smoke at the front door of her mobile home. She has shouldered most of the parental responsibilities as her fiancé AJ starts his new job.
Sarah embraces AJ on their porch. “I’m so in love with this man he doesn’t even know it,” Sarah said.
Sarah eggs on her four-year-old son Hagan as he and his father AJ play fight with belts and boxing gloves.
AJ and Sarah exchange words after play-fighting goes too far. AJ would push back at Sarah with their 9-month-old son Killian in her arms.
Sarah demands AJ leave their home. Sarah promised herself that she would fight back after an ex-partner physically abused her in the past.
AJ demands that Sarah leave their home as she threatens to call the police.
AJ and 14-year-old Domonic get into a physical altercation in their home. Domonic promised that he would protect his mother after the abuse they suffered from his father.
Sarah cries after kicking AJ out of their home for the night.
Sarah picks up pieces from a broken mirror in her bedroom. AJ broke it in a fit of rage.
Domonic comforts her mother Sarah after AJ leaves their home for the night. Sarah said she was proud of her son for defending her.
Sarah checks to see if her fiancé AJ is away from her home as her four-year-old son Hagan sleeps on the couch. The couple would make up in the morning before AJ left for work.