Sue Radford is pregnant....

[MadameFoner]

Just seen a post on Facebook...

They also go to childminders after school etc. It is necessary sometimes as parents might be in important jobs etc. The only reason I stated that is we all have different circumstances. Their kids are growing up and some will leave home. If they don't end up the brightest they can still be happy. I should think they will be a mixture of different careers and stuff as they grow up.

What's sad is people saying children already here are a waste of resources. Those poor kids deserve the same as any other child. You might have a nurse, a doctor, a hairdresser, a childminder, a shelf stacker, a teacher etc amongst them. They might go in the forces. Some might have large families. It's unkind to suggest they are already doomed. We do not know what goes on in the house or what the routine is. Maybe the older kids enjoy helping with the little ones. My DD is four and loves choosing her brothers outfits, feeding him, helping him when he's stuck. She naturally likes mothering him. I don't force her to care. I'm sure the older ones do naturally help mum out by holding a toddler or pushing a pram. But that's not cruelty if they are happy. I was always borrowing people's toddlers when I was around 12. I loved taking babies for walks and helping get them dressed. I really loved children. I still do. I only have two because that's enough for us. But I dunno. I think there hearts are in the right place. I think she will hug her children and soothe them when they are sad. I don't think she lacks in emotional support for her kids. She seems super kind and loving. She definitely meets all their needs of clothes and food. They are schooled. They mix at nursery. They have treats. They have holidays. I won't rip another family to shreds on netmums for doing it differently. The kids will all be fine and will never be lonely 😁

Oops. I meant to say it baffles me.

I have two half sisters that left home as I was born. Then one other full sister. So I grew up with 3 sisters but 2 had left home

Maybe the older kids enjoy helping with the little ones.

From my understanding the older girls get no choice in whether or not they help out. There is a world off difference between fetching a clean outfit or pushing a pram and basically raising a small child who you didn't want around in the first place because mum has moved onto the next new squishy baby. If someone cannot see that is what is happening then they are very naïve.

Plenty of working parents barely have time for the one child who's in nursery 8am until 6pm

But when those working parents are not at work they only have the one child (to use your example) to focus on and they have weekends, days off, mornings and evenings. The child gets quality time.

When there are 20+ children no one is getting any quality time. The parents are spread too thinly to possibly have any sort of quality time with them.

What's wrong with Clarkes shoes, are you jealous

Seething with jealousy. Seriously. Wish I had 22 children with the toddlers shunted off onto their older siblings so that I could focus on my newest baby whilst emotionally neglecting them all and seriously limiting their life choices by denying them even the most basic opportunities and experiences.

Allthecake89 you’re on Mumsnet love, not Netmums.

That told me lol bye now anyway pathetic thread. None of you would say it to their faces

None of you would say it to their faces

I would.

None of you would say it to their faces

I have and it was deleted pronto

I find the idea that large families are automatically neglectful ridiculous. Why do you think that? Loads of parents have busy time consuming jobs and children. Is she LESS busy than a brain surgeon, or an astronaut or a lawyer?

I too would say it to their faces. I would love to ask them why they think they have the right to bring so many children into an already overpopulated world.

I would also tell them they are incredibly selfish

Ignoring the benefits, money, whether they are good parents etc. I would be more concerned about the effect all these pregnancies have on her body. Surely she has very high risks of complications for both her and the baby at this stage. I don't understand why you would risk it when you already have so many children that need you. I have had 2 children and my pregnancies were complicated and so was the last labour, for this reason I would never consider another child because it wouldn't be fair on the children I already have. I cant imagine drs would say that many pregnancies are a good idea. Her uterus must be thin by now, what about her bone health and general health? Seems like a lot of strain on one body.
I feel sad that her current kids are not enough for her. Sad for them and sad for her tbh.

The pair of them are selfish
What on earth motivates them yo do this
Notoriety?
Fame?

It's ridiculous what's she gonna do when the menopause kicks in

I'm amazed she even remembers all their names

I worry what people would say if I said I had 15 dogs. I imagine people would say I was nuts yet 20+ kids is okay?! If they don’t want people to comment they should just get on with their lives. Are we only allowed to make nice comments about the people who chose to put themselves in the spotlight? Despite their show I’ve no doubt being edited the older children seem miserable about their parents continuing to have more children. I wonder if they’d have continued to have kids if their “hun fans” weren’t giving them any attention.

But when those working parents are not at work they only have the one child (to use your example) to focus on and they have weekends, days off, mornings and evenings. The child gets quality time*
When? Don't make me laugh, parents home, cook tea, children bath and bed, knackered parents lucky to hear them read.
Plenty parents have hours to spend with their dc, coz that's why they had them.
Nobody is better than this family, they are just kidding themselves and yes, seething with jealousy, not a pleasant attribute.

I find the idea that large families are automatically neglectful ridiculous.

I don't think large families are automatically neglectful. I do think this large family, although it seems disingenuous and laughable to merely label them as large as though they are in the same category as families of 4+, are neglecting their children.

I'm amazed she even remembers all their names

Me too. Or at get them mixed up what with Tillie, Millie, Ellie and Hallie.

It’s bizarre that you think everyone is jealous. Who would want 22 children? It’s most peoples nightmare.

I’m from a catholic background and my grandparents were one of 11 and 13 respectively. They only had 4 because large families like that were seen as pretty low rent in the 50s (for all sorts of sexist/ Catholic Church control related reasons).

No one was ever jealous of the massive families. I’ve never heard such nonsense

Being present in a house is not the same as being available for and raising your kids. She'd be absolutely screwed if all of the older kids left never mind if the two of them split up. Didn't one of the shows show him coming home from work to help with the school run?

Seething with jealousy? Are you crazy?
Pregnant at 13 and 20 odd kids on top of that? I wouldn’t swap places with her if my life depended on it.

I'm amazed she even remembers all their names
Don’t be ridiculous, teachers care for and remember the names of your children 30+ hours a week and no one bats an eyelid.

I don't think people are jealous, I think what happens is that people can't understand why and they get nasty.

What I see is two people who possibly have mild learning difficulties and who have developed a coping mechanism of having babies all the time. Probably to heal whatever issues they have from childhood. Certainly it's not ideal but it doesn't make them evil people.

The bigger question is what will happen when they can't have kids any more? How will they cope?

I find the idea that large families are automatically neglectful ridiculous. Why do you think that? Loads of parents have busy time consuming jobs and children. Is she LESS busy than a brain surgeon, or an astronaut or a lawyer?

I'm one of four. That was a large family, and we were perfectly well loved and cared for.

23 is not a "large family". It's insanity and neglect.