Sarah at the Center

By Minh Connors

Minh Connors

Team Eppridge

STORY SUMMARY

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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 Robbins rolls out a tricycle for her 2-year-old daughter Freighlyn before the family goes on their daily walk on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2022 in Excelsior Springs. Robinson is a mother of five children with ages ranging from 9 months to 14 years.

Sarah Robbins 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,” Robbins said.

Sarah Robbins pushes a stroller with her children Killian Ayers, 9 months, and Freighlyn Ayers, 2, as Hagan Ayers, 2, runs beside them on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2022 in Excelsior Springs.

Sarah Robbins and her family make a stop during their daily walk to admire the corn snake of family friend Tim on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2022 in Excelsior Springs. Dozens of pets share the mobile home with Sarah and her family, which includes a dog, a cat, a chicken and fish.

Sarah Robbins and AJ Ayers, who she has been engaged to for 8 years, look towards the street at one of their children as Ayers replaces the alternator to his truck on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Excelsior Springs. Sarah and AJ have had three children together: a 4-year-old son, a 2-year-old daughter and a 9-month-old son.

Sarah Robbins and AJ Ayers watch as their kids, from left, Freighlyn, Killian and Hagan, play on their front porch on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2022 in Excelsior Springs. Before having children together, Robbins and Ayers were homeless for two years and lived in cars and in the wilderness near the Missouri River.

Hagan Ayers finds a snack as his mother Sarah Robbins looks to Freighlyn Ayers and nurses Killian Ayers on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Excelsior Springs. Earlier that day, the family received their food stamp benefits for the month, so Robinson was able to make a homemade meatloaf for dinner.

Sarah Robbins combs the hair of her daughter Freighlyn Ayers on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Excelsior Springs. After her fifth child, Robinson said she was done having kids and feels guilty that Ayers will not have a baby sister.

Sarah Robbins talks to her daughter Freighlyn Ayers on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Excelsior Springs.

10. Sarah Robbins holds Killian Ayers as he falls asleep in their home on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2022, in Excelsior Springs. Robbins has been experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression since the birth of her youngest child nine months ago.

Sarah Robbins takes a moment to smoke at the front door of her mobile home on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Excelsior Springs. Robbins has shouldered most of the parental responsibilities as her fiancé AJ Ayers starts his new job.

Sarah Robbins embraces her fiancé AJ Ayers on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Excelsior Springs. “I’m so in love with this man he doesn’t even know it,” Robbins said.

Sarah Robbins cries after kicking her fiancé out of their home for the night on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2022, in Excelsior Springs.

Sarah Robbins checks to see if her fiancé AJ Ayers is away from her home as her 4-year-old son Hagan sleeps on the couch on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2022, in Excelsior Springs. They would make up in the morning before Ayers left for work.

Brian Kratzer, Co-Director

Alyssa Schukar, Co-Director

Hany Hawasly, Technical Director

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