Being a parent is a wonderful experience, but it is also one of the most difficult jobs in the world. Diamond and Chris Harris can empathize because they have successfully raised sextuplets!

Kiera Christine, Kaylynne Antoinett, Kaleb Reddick, Kobe Byshari, Kieran Anthony, and Kyle Jacob Harris are the country’s first surviving set of African American sextuplets. They recently completed their senior year at Center Point High School in Birmingham, Alabama, which was another milestone for them.

Diamond and Chris had only hoped for one more child when they chose to establish a family 18 years ago. Dewayne, Diamond’s first kid from a previous relationship, was five at the time, and the pair wanted him to have a sibling. However, two years after their marriage, they were unable to conceive. They saw a fertility specialist, who prescribed Diamond a hormone and advised them not to get their hopes up.

The fertility medications worked and, as they would later discover, accomplished far more than they had anticipated.

Diamond was told she was having twins when she went to the doctor for a pregnancy test after learning she was pregnant. An ultrasound, however, revealed that five kids were growing inside of her. Diamond got a blood clot on her lung a few months into her pregnancy and had to stay at the University of Alabama Hospital. She had to have a C-section 26.5 weeks later, on July 8, 2002, since things were getting difficult. Only then did her physicians discover she was expecting six children.

When the babies were born, they each weighed between 1 lb. 3 oz. and 1 lb. 12 oz., the average weight for premature babies. They had to stay in the hospital for over three months before finally being allowed to go home.

Fast forward to 2020, and the unusual siblings have graduated from high school! Although they are pleased with their children, Diamond and Chris admit to feeling emotional on the big day.

«I sat in bed the morning of the ceremony, staring at their baby pictures and feeling unhappy,» she told Today. «It’ll be far too quiet.»

«I’ve known these kids for about 18 years. «They’ve been my motivation,» Chris, 46, added. «I keep telling myself that it’ll just be different, but everything will be fine.»

It will be heartbreaking to see them leave, but the parents will find solace in the idea that the six will return from time to time to do their laundry. They will all continue their schooling in Alabama.

Kiera is a cosmetology student at Lawson State Community College. Kaylynne will attend Alabama State University for a physical therapy program, and Kobe, who wants to play college baseball, will join her. Both Kaleb and Kieran will attend Alabama A&M to study computer science and art, respectively. Kyle, who is autistic, will participate in a life skills program.

This isn’t the first major shift that the Harris family has had to deal with. Diamond and Chris separated in 2012 and afterward remarried.

«Chris and I are best friends,» Diamond declared. «I adore his wife as well.» I constantly communicate with her. ‘She’s my wife,’ I told Chris the other day.

Because the two have a solid connection, the sextuplets get the best of both parents. They’ll be packing up their rooms in August, and Chris remarked that doing projects with kids and Monday pizza night will be the things he misses the most once they depart for college. Diamond, on the other hand, will miss hearing the teenagers speak in their «unique» language.

«No one else understands what they’re saying,» she said. «I’ll say, ‘Slow down, enunciate.'» And they glance at me as if to say, ‘How could you miss that?’ That’s how it’s been since they started talking.»

Their children will miss them as well, but it is time for them to move on. Best of luck in college, Harris siblings!