![growing up mcghee Mia McGhee Talks Parenting, Family, and ‘Growing Up McGhee’ Season 2 [Exclusive Interview]](https://telltaletv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_0176-2-730x487.jpg "IMG_0176 2 | Tell-Tale TV")
Mia McGhee Talks Parenting, Family, and ‘Growing Up McGhee’ Season 2 [Exclusive Interview]
For most people, having one or two children is challenging enough, but what happens when you have six? Mia and Ro McGhee know this exact struggle.
Mia and Rozonno McGhee are the proud parents of sextuplets and have their own show called Growing Up McGhee that airs on UpTV.
I had a few questions for Mia McGhee about what it’s like to have sextuplets, and how she and her husband manage to keep it all together.
Tell-Tale TV: Growing Up McGhee originally began as 6 Little McGhees on the Oprah Winfrey Network in 2012, How was the transition between networks on the family?
Mia McGhee: We’ll always be grateful to Oprah Winfrey and OWN for believing in our family and giving us our start. Our beginnings brought us to where we are today.
We owe our introduction to UP to our production company, Figure 8. Figure 8 thought UP would be a perfect match because of their commitment to family programming, and they were right! We’re so grateful to be on a network that gets what family is all about.
![Mia McGhee Talks Parenting, Family, and ‘Growing Up McGhee’ Season 2 [Exclusive Interview]](https://www.telltaletv.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_5199.jpg "IMG_5199 | Tell-Tale TV")
Tell-Tale TV: What are some of the challenges fans are going to get to see the family go through in Season 2?
McGhee: Parenting six six-year-olds presents all kinds of challenges! In Season 2, we break the news to the kids that they’ll be repeating kindergarten. We struggled a great deal with this decision, but in the end, we knew it was for the best.
I think a lot of people forget that when we had the sextuplets we became parents for the first time. So really, we’re all just trying to figure it out together as a family. I think one of the major challenges is being intentional about celebrating each child’s individuality.
We tell them all the time, “You’re stronger together,” but we want them to know who they are and shine as individuals too. On top of that, I’ll be honest, it’s hard to keep up with six vibrant personalities while also prioritizing your marriage. Ro and I couldn’t do it if we weren’t the team we are. We truly wouldn’t have it any other way. You’ll see all of this and more in Season 2.
Tell-Tale TV: What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned, so far, from being parents of sextuplets?
McGhee: The most valuable thing we’ve learned is to cherish each moment, even the challenging ones. We recognize that our kids are growing up quickly and they’re only this age once.
Tell-Tale TV: What’s your favorite activity to do with the children?
McGhee: My favorite thing to do with the kids is to pack them up, get out of the house and go exploring. While we love our house, sometimes we get a little stir crazy, so taking them places and going on little adventures is the best remedy!
Tell-Tale TV: What is one of your biggest fears when it comes to your family?
McGhee: I think parents struggle with all sorts of fears when it comes to their kids, but I don’t like to focus on them. I’ll say that my biggest hope for my kids is that they stay close to each other through thick and thin. Everything we do now is to reinforce that our family is stronger together.
Tell-Tale TV: What is one thing that the both of you try to do to make sure that each child feels like they get the right amount of attention dedicated specifically to them?
Ro and I are very intentional about making sure each child feels special and has one-on-one time. We definitely try to keep it natural and organic, though.
As their parents, we know our kids like the back of our hands, and we sense their needs. If one of the boys needs some time, Ro might take him to work. The girls and I have gone to Chicago for the weekend for a little getaway. It just depends on who needs what when, but we try to keep it natural and organic.
Tell-Tale TV: When the both of you actually have free time with no children, how do you like to spend it?
McGhee: What’s free time? We take a cruise every year without the kids, and that’s something we anticipate and really enjoy. In fact, I book the next cruise before the one we’re on is over! If we’re home and the kids are in bed, we like to get caught up on the television we don’t get to watch while the kids are up!
Tell-Tale TV: What TV shows do you like to watch when you have the time?
McGhee: We don’t get much time to watch TV. I’ll be honest and say that I do watch Atlanta Housewives when I can, and Ro likes Game of Thrones.
Tell-Tale TV: What is one thing that you would like to change in 2017 that you think would help your family?
McGhee: I think I’ll be more intentional about a little more time for myself in 2017. We’ll see how far I get!
Be sure to catch Mia McGhee on tonight’s season premiere of Growing Up McGhee!
Growing Up McGhee airs Thursdays at 9:30/8:30c on UpTV.
Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.