16 kids and counting...

[thatisall]

I genuinely don't know what I think, have no strong opinions about their lifestyle, life choices etc etc.....my first thoughts were that it was just too many but they seem very nice and happy lol

Am I being unreasonable to want to chat about the show on here anyway?

No I'm not a jour no trying to get a MN quote before someone suggests it....

....just sat at home alone thinking 16....? 16!? :-O

[terilou87]

i was just watching it, yeah i was also thinking 16!! how do they cope. they do seem like a happy familiy but how much of it is put on for cameras.
can u imagine all the sibling fights. im one of 4 and we used to always fight and argue
it must be a very stressful life for the parents. hats off to them though, id be in the looney bin by now with that many children.

[Kayano]

probably get Galesburg I think it's pretty irresponsible to have 16 kids

[KobayashiMaru]

there is a whole topic for tv, and a thread about this show, so YABU, go to the right place.

[LuluMai]

They do seem such a lovely and chilled out family! The dad in particular is such a nice fella!

[thatisall]

Hats off indeed. All beautiful children, well behaved, well turned out etc etc, but I was the oldest of five and us older ones ended up looking after the little ones all the time!

[Kayano]

Galesburg? flamed!

[thatisall]

haha! I did wonder what a galesburg was?

[thatisall]

I'm not sure I'd carry on if I was told, my health was seriously at risk...not really fair on the children you already have? Then again I'm probably just projecting my own feelings about lots of children. i don't know. I didn't expect them to look that happy I think.

[terilou87]

kayano at the risk of sounding stupid, what does probably get galesburg mean?? never heard that before.

[terilou87]

already ansered lol

[MrsKeithRichards]

I'm just jealous I can't get one of to school without some tears from someone and they manage all that!

[HoHoHoNoYouDont]

What a lovely family they are.

[TraineeBabyCatcher]

I think they're mad to be fair. I literally couldnt imagine dealing with all that. I love kids and love the idea of one day having a big family but I don't know how they manage the needs of all 16- even if you purely consider there needs around the house, clothes, food, etc.
She does make it look easy to have that many, most people would be running round like headless chickens after about 6! But they do seem like a really nice, well rounded family.

[carabos]

I dunno, I think they're bonkers, but in a lovely sort of way.

[pinkoddballs]

hi all I'm new here.
I interviewed Sue for my blog before the show and she is really nice. I just couldn't believe how much love a couple could have for their children. I think they came across as very well behaved children.

[magimedi88]

DH & i both said that those kids will grow up & grab the world & have very few 'isshues'.

What a lovely family.

[TinyDancingHoofer]

They seem really nice but i would hate to be one of 16. How often do you think the older kids get to go out for dinner with just mum or just dad? I dunno i guess i wouldn't feel special if my parents had had me and then been like nope, need 15 more this family is not enough. That sounds harsh and quite self important, i don't think i am saying what i mean. Their kids are probably a lot less selfish than me!

[apostropheuse]

I thought they looked happy, loved and well looked after. It's of course entirely their choice how many children they have, provided they can care and provide for them. They obviously were doing this very well.

However, to be honest, I was a bit surprised that they're not ruling out having more, as it's now getting more dangerous for her to be pregnant. The increased chances of her haemorrhaging I would have thought would have put them off having any more.It would be so tragic for that lovely family to lose their mum when it could be avoided.

[katiecubs]

I could not get my head around how they even afforded them all?!?!!

[Naysa]

I'll probably get flamed for asking this but...

How do the parents nurture the older children when there is a constant stream of newborns?

A relative of mine has just had twins and has two much older children (the youngest being twelve years older than the twins) and she's found it hard to make time for the older two so how do hey manage it with 16?

And as for her having another when it is risking her health IMO says a lot about her priorities, I.e it's more important to have another newborn than stay healthy for the kids I already have.

Something about it just doesn't sit right for me ...

[Naysa]

I'll probably get flamed for asking this but...

How do the parents nurture the older children when there is a constant stream of newborns?

A relative of mine has just had twins and has two much older children (the youngest being twelve years older than the twins) and she's found it hard to make time for the older two so how do hey manage it with 16?

And as for her having another when it is risking her health IMO says a lot about her priorities, I.e it's more important to have another newborn than stay healthy for the kids I already have.

Something about it just doesn't sit right for me ...

[MrsKeithRichards]

They seemed very hands on with all of the kids.

[DancingRoundTheKitchen]

I thought they all stemmed very happy and loved. I think it must be very special to be one of 16 and the siblings all seemed really close. But, I agree with Naysa, there can not be enough hours on the day to give all the children the attention (I think) they need, to nurture the older ones while caring for the younger ones.