Every grocery trip feels heavier than the last. Veronica Merritt, a 39-year-old single mom from New York, is raising 12 children — and now depends on food stamps to keep her family fed. What once cost $500 a month has exploded to more than $2,000, forcing her to fill her pantry with macaroni, hot dogs, and ramen just to get by.

Despite the judgment she faces online, Veronica refuses to apologize for her big family. “People say I shouldn’t have had so many kids if I can’t afford them,” she said. “But I don’t regret a single one. Being a mom is my superpower.” Her 12 children — from 24-year-old Victoria to little Modi, just two — each bring color and chaos to her nine-bedroom home, which she bought for $20,000 but struggles to maintain.

Inflation has hit families across America, but for Veronica, every price increase feels personal. With $1,400 a month in food stamps, she still comes up short. “You can’t feed 12 mouths on that,” she said softly. “We’re doing our best.”

Still, she chooses joy over shame. “It’s hard, but I love them all. They’re my life. My reason for everything.”