I'm with you

Round 17: January 2027

Dawn Whitfield is 23, Finn Harris is 22 and Shea is 7.

Narrated by Dawn.

We moved to Allerdale just a few weeks ago and I took over mom's restaurant. It's been quite a stressful beginning for this year so of course I got sick. Mom offered to help at the restaurant so I could take a couple of days off and get some rest. Luckily my little flu ended as quickly as it started.

Happy Birthday, January 2027

Let's see our birthday boys and girls!

Liana Patterson celebrates her 4th birthday...

... as does Naomi Parker. The girls still have one year of freedom before starting pre-school.

Sunny road

Round 16: September 2026

Dawn Whitfield is 22, Josh Cooper and Finn Harris are 21, Shea Harris is 6.

Narrated by Finn.

Josh living with us has gone much better than I expected. He's surprisingly tidy and he's willing to babysit whenever we ask if he doesn't have classes.

Slow motion

Round 16: March 2026

Dawn Whitfield is 22, Finn Harris is 21, Shea is 6 and Josh Cooper is 21.

(Lilly is 21.)

Narrated by Josh.

Dawn and Finn asked me to live with them this year so I could get out of the dorm. I didn't have to think for long before I accepted their offer. I was surprised but Finn explained that Dawn felt sorry for me after hearing the whole story about my roommate-from-hell situation. As much as I hate feeling like a charity case I'm still happy to be able to breath again. Dawn works long hours at her mom's restaurant so it's not like I'm in her way a lot anyway.

Happy Birthday, January 2026

Mia Greene turns 12 this year and is one of the three new students in Wellington High School. Mia is very family-oriented but she also has her sights set on a career as an artist.

Christmas lights, 2025

Round 16: December 2025

Liv Harris is 27.

(Stella is 61, Deacon is 60, Dawn is 21, Finn is 20.)

Narrated by Liv.

I bought this house earlier this year. I gained access to my trust fund when I turned 25 but it took a long time to find the perfect house because I knew exactly what I wanted. This house just clicked the moment I walked in. I had the floors replaced and the walls painted before I moved in. At first it felt a bit weird to have so much space for myself because I had lived in that tiny apartment ever since I graduated but I really love living here.

Bed peace

Round 16: September 2025

Dawn Whitfield is 21, Finn Harris is 20 and Shea is 5.

(Rianna is 55, Denise is 39, Josh and Lilly are 20.)

Narrated by Dawn.

Unfortunately it turned out that Finn is allergic to birds. Soon after we bought Polly he started sneezing and coughing. One morning he woke up with both his eyes swollen shut. He got tested and he's allergic to birds and rodents which rules out getting a guinea pig as well.

Video killed the radio star

Round 16: May 2025

Deacon Burrows is 60, Stella Harris is 61, Minka is 7 and Nick is 5.

(Liv is 27, Dawn is 21, Finn is 20 and Shea is 5.)

Narrated by Deacon.

One of the best things I know nowadays is being greeted at the gate to our house by Minka when I come home from work. "Daddy, you're home!" she shouts and throws her arms around my neck. It took months before she started calling me Daddy so it's like winning the lottery every time I hear it.

Addicted to you

Round 16: March 2025

Dawn Whitfield is 21, Finn Harris is 20 and Shea is 5.

Narrated by Dawn.

Shea's been begging us to get a pet. She'd love a dog or a cat but I think at this point she'd settle for any kind of pet. The other day she managed to catch some butterflies into a jar and said they're her pets. She put the jar on the kitchen counter and just stared at it for minutes.

Boy with a coin

Round 15: September 2024

Dawn Whitfield is 20, Finn Harris is 19 and Shea is 4.

(Deacon is 59, Minka is 6 and Nick is 4.)

Narrated by Finn Harris.

It's been a bit weird since Josh and Lilly broke up. They usually came over together and now they carefully arrange their visits so that they won't be here at the same time. Josh says everything's going fine and he's having fun.

Walk away

Round 15: September 2024

Zach Whitfield is 20, Josh Cooper and Lilly Fielding are 19.

(Finn is 19.)

Narrated by Josh Cooper.

Things have been going really well with Lilly but I just feel restless sometimes. There's a part of me that wonders if this is all that life has to offer for me. I love Lilly but the idea of being with just one person all my life - it just doesn't feel right anymore.

Our love is easy

Round 15: March 2024

Dawn Whitfield is 20, Finn Harris is 19 and Shea Harris is 4.
(Jackie and Ryland are 73, Zach is 20 and Lilly is 19.)

Narrated by Finn Harris.

Dawn and I both have classes in the evening this semester so I've been able to continue in my job. Dawn usually lets me sleep as late as possible so she fixes breakfast for Shea and walks her to the school bus.

School days, February 2024

Round 15: February 2024

Principal: Rianna Midlock

Teachers: Patsy Greene, Quinn Hayes

Students: Jesse Midlock is 11, Jett and Kyra Marlowe and Mia Greene are 10, James Cooper, Connor and Dane Harper and Lina Marlowe are 8, Paloma Lind is 7, Bridget Greene-Cooper and Minka Harris are 6, Brady Cooper and Lucas Greene-Cooper are 5, Jena Harper, Nick Harris and Shea Harris are 4.

Narrated by Patsy Greene

It's always so exciting for new students to start school work and I just love to see those little faces light up when they see the class room. This year I have 3 students but next year there will be eight. I'm already dreading the idea of a class full of kids!

Little dreams

Round 15: September 2023

Dawn Whitfield is 19, Finn Harris is 18 and Shea is 3.

(Liv is 25, Eve is 22, Zach is 19 and Lilly is 18.)

Narrated by Dawn Whitfield

Finn and I have been talking a lot about where we're going to live next year. Shea will turn 4 and start pre-school and we both want her to go to Allerdale Elementary instead of some other school. It'll be a long bus ride every day and one of us will have to take her there and back. Finn's parents suggested that we could move in with them but to me the idea of living with my in-laws isn't very appealing and Finn's not too thrilled about it either.

Africa

Round 15: March 2023


Dawn Whitfield is 19, Finn Harris is 18 and Shea is 3.
(Zach is 19 and Josh and Lilly are 18.)

Narrated by Finn Harris.

My parents warned me that moving in with Dawn and Shea might not be as easy as I expect it to be. In the beginning it all went really well. Dawn and Shea have their own daily routines and I am trying to become a part of that routine.

All you need is love

Round 15: February 2023

Stella Harris is 59 and Deacon Burrows is 58.

(Liv is 25, Dawn is 19, Finn is 18 and Shea is 3.)

Narrated by Stella Harris.

I know that Liv and Finn were quite shocked at first about our plans to adopt a child but they've been really supportive. In a way it feels like we've gotten closer during the process.

I still can't believe we're getting two children. They're a sister and a brother, a 5-year-old girl called Mariya and a 3-year-old boy called Nikolai. They've been living in a foster home for the past few months and we've met them a few times. They're quite reserved but according to the social worker that's quite normal. It's our main goal now to get them to trust us and open up to us.

Happy Birthday, January 2023

Brady Cooper will turn 4 this year and he's already anxious to start pre-school.

Material girl

Round 14: Autumn 2022


Dawn Whitfield is 18 and Shea Harris is 2.
(Finn is 17.)

Narrated by Dawn Whitfield.

I'm starting to see that our first semester was sort of a soft landing into university. The teachers are starting to build up pressure now that we're starting our second semester. It feels like I have even less free time but I still make Shea my main priority. I can always study longer but I'm not willing to lose precious moments with my daughter. I was so afraid of how we'd make it but so far it's been great. I spend the morning with her and then head off to classes when the nanny comes.

Sleeping sun

Round 14: Spring 2022


Ryland and Jackie Whitfield are 71.
(Stella is 58 and Deacon is 57.)

Narrated by Jackie Whitfield.

This is the first time in over 50 years that Ryland and I are living alone. We've always had at least one kid living with us but now they've all flown out of the nest.

Battle without honour

Round 14: Spring 2022


Dawn Whitfield is 18 and Shea Harris is 2.
(Stephen is 21, Zach is 18 and Finn is 17.)

Narrated by Dawn Whitfield.

Shea and I moved to Brixton a couple of months ago. I would be lying if I said I wasn't terrified at first about living on my own for the first time in my life. Especially since it's not just me. I have to think about Shea's well-being in every decision I make.