A Quintessential Family

Ten years after their debut on the cover of FSLM, the Seals family speaks on life with quintuplets
By Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

photo by shane darby.

Like many local parents, Michelle and Steven Seals balance their energy between work responsibilities, domestic duties, and their kids’ extra-curricular activities. They plan vacations and often spend time with extended family members. However, unlike most local parents, the Sealses navigate all of those things as a family of eight. Their 7th grader, Brady, and their 10-year-old quintuplets—Mia, Tessa, Gracie, Rayleigh, and Brant—keep them constantly on-the-go.

The Seals quintuplets and their big brother, Brady, were featured on the FSLM cover in December 2014. 

In March of 2014, at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Michelle gave birth to five babies, 11 weeks premature. The multiple pregnancy had resulted from low-dose fertility treatments; her first sonogram showed two fetuses, the second showed four, and the third showed six, one of which sadly died in the womb. The five surviving babies spent many months in the NICU. All three girls needed feeding tubes. Rayleigh also required surgery to correct a heart defect, and Mia’s airway had to be expanded. Once home, the babies received physical, occupational, and speech therapies. The young parents of six received help from the entire community: a family friend spent two nights a week at their home, allowing the Seals adults to get some sleep. Churches, relatives, friends, and anonymous community members pitched in, holding showers and diaper drives, sending monetary gifts and cards, offering prayers, and providing support. In the 2014 issue of Four States Living Magazine, Stephen described their home as “a zoo,” and Michelle said that she couldn’t even imagine what their life would look like in even two years, when the babies were mobile.

The quints in birth order: Mia, Tessa, Brant, Gracie and Rayleigh.

Now, a decade later, life is more normal than Stephen or Michelle ever could have imagined.

Organization is key. Michelle said the family’s kitchen includes a big calendar to keep track of everyone’s events, including church involvement, Brady’s football and band activities, Brant’s martial arts, and the girls’ volleyball, basketball, and softball schedules.

“One of the hardest parts of having a big family is the logistics of getting everyone where they need to be,” Michelle said. “We rely heavily on our families for support. Our families help us when we have more than one event happening at the same time. We are great at dividing and conquering to make everything work.”

The Seals on a family trip to Maui, Hawaii. submitted photo.

While the moving parts of after-school activities might be a challenge to coordinate, home life runs fairly smoothly for the Seals family. Michelle said there are two secrets to their success: routines and structure. Because of this approach, the children have grown to be very independent. Each night, they choose their clothes for the next day and set their alarms for 6 a.m.. They make their own breakfasts and pack their lunches.

Michelle and Steven have high expectations for their children’s academic performance as well. All six kids attend Maud ISD, where both Steven and Michelle attended themselves. Michelle now works at the district as a dyslexia teacher and reading interventionist, while Steven works in Texarkana for Edward Jones.

The parents say that though their family may be larger than average, they have always wanted to be sure their kids had the most normal childhood possible.

“The most interesting thing about our family is that we’re really not that interesting,” Michelle said. “We’re just regular people; there just happen to be a lot of us.”

The Seals took a trip to Disney World in 2021. submitted photo.

Despite their parents’ intentional attempt at normalcy, the quints do recognize the unique bond they have. They all say the best thing about being a quint is having built-in best friends.

“We have each other’s backs no matter what,” Tessa said.

Gracie and Rayleigh talked about the constant companionship their siblings offered, and Mia agreed.

“It’s awesome because I always have someone to talk to about my feelings when I’m feeling sad,” Mia said. “I always have my sisters to cheer with and do stunts with.”

With all of that cheering, Brant offered a different perspective.

“It’s always loud around here with all these sisters,” he shared.

Thankfully, he has Brady, who Michelle says is the best big brother. Brady had just turned 2 years old when the quints were born, and he does not remember a time in his life without them.

Together, the family enjoys being outdoors and traveling.

“Traveling with six kids isn’t the easiest task, but it’s worth it to us,” Michelle said. “The kids love to travel. As a family, we have been to Disney World, Tennessee, Hawaii, and Mexico.”

As much as they do together, the extended family makes sure that the children get individual attention. Michelle said that the kids’ grandparents and aunts are actively involved in their lives and usually take one or two kids at a time on weekends. The extended family also makes sure that Michelle and Steven have time as a couple without the kids.

Every year, the Seals kids choose a theme for Halloween. This year, each child dressed as a musician: Slim Shady, Elvis, and four Taylor Swifts. submitted photo.

Michelle and Steven might have their hands full with such a big family, but they recognize that their hearts are just as full.

“We never imagined ourselves having six kids,” Michelle said. “It was a scary thought when I was pregnant with the quints, but everything has worked out just as it was meant to. We are so thankful and blessed with the crazy life we are allowed to live.”