THE ROLOFF family (from left): Zachary, Jeremy, Matt, Amy, Molly and Jacob
“It’s like that family that you never knew and finally got to discover,” says Amy Roloff, star of the reality show “Little People, Big World,” in a phone interview.
“You [don’t] necessarily meet us in person, but we seem to be part of your family,” she adds, describing the show’s appeal.
The long-running TLC series, about spouses with dwarfism and their children, is back for an 11th season.
Roloff says the family members have grown tremendously since opening up about their lives for the program over a decade ago. “My boys started when they were 12 and now they’re 25. [You witness] milestones that happen in a family. And you see a relationship that is ending—[my husband and costar] Matt and I are, unfortunately, getting a divorce.”
Roloff, whose height is 4’2”, says the split was amicable, and the couple’s situation will be shown in the new episodes. “We have definitely chosen to…be friendly, knowing that we have businesses together…and we’ll be on the same page when it comes to our kids.”
The Roloff kids are fraternal twins Jeremy and Zachary, 25; Molly, 22, and Jacob, 18.
“My twin boys–one’s average-height, and one’s a little person—and my two other average-height children, I look at them as four individuals, four wonderful blessings,” she says.
Raising the kids had its familiar challenges, according to the proud mom: “[I helped] Zachary, my little person, not to [be] jealous of his twin—and Jeremy, who is of average height, to not have the perception of Zachary as…a burden.”
Molly’s wedding will be shown, says the reality show star and businesswoman. Jacob will move out of the family home, and his departure will also be documented.
Other developments keep the show interesting, says Roloff: “You get to see a wonderful event that raises money [through the Amy Roloff Charity Foundation] for organizations that help kids facing life’s challenges.”
The Roloffs own a farm, and have launched a pumpkin salsa business, which is being well-received. “We’ve been growing pumpkins on our farm for probably 18 years,” she reveals. “I can’t believe that it’s taken us all this time to think of a pumpkin food product! We were so nervous that no one would buy it.”
Roloff, 51, describes the empty nester life as immensely different, but it allows her room for creative changes. “I’m recreating [vacant] rooms into guest rooms,” she says, adding, “I have an opportunity…to really think about me. Family, kids and TV have dictated my life, and it feels very strange to suddenly think I have a bigger percentage of how I am going to dictate my life.”
As for the show’s Filipino supporters, Roloff is grateful: “I appreciate all the fans out there in the Philippines. I truly do; one day, I would love to [visit].”
(Season 11 of “Little People, Big World” debuts on Oct. 14, 9 p.m., on TLC.)