Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

16 kids and counting...

378 replies

thatisall · 11/01/2013 21:47

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

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 12/01/2013 20:48

'She looked so young and freshfaced.'

Because she's only 37 and started having babies when she was 14.

MammaTJ · 12/01/2013 20:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

thebitchbrigade · 12/01/2013 20:51

She can't do it Mamma, she would miss me Wink

LadyBeagleEyes · 12/01/2013 20:52

No one in this day and age needs 16 children, however lovely they are.

TwllBach · 12/01/2013 20:54

I really
Enjoyed the programme - when I was little I wanted 13 children. It appears as though they are supporting themselves and they obviously love all their children. I do wonder how they all manage a peaceful nights sleep though

5madthings · 12/01/2013 20:56

Yes she had her first at 14, but then didn't have any more until 19/20 by which time they were married and they do as others have said gave their own successful business and they work hard.

Its not everyone's cup of tea but couples can get together at a young age and stay together.

As for tern pregnancies the daughter is 18 I think and working, I had my first at 19 whilst at uni, again not for everyone but having a baby at 18/19 doesn't have to be the disaster that some make it out to be.

PuffPants · 12/01/2013 21:01

Didn't see it but would be interested to know how much they rake in in child benefit and tax credits.

Catchingmockingbirds · 12/01/2013 21:05

I think it's lovely that they've been together since they were 13, and are still happy together.

Catchingmockingbirds · 12/01/2013 21:06

It would be easy to work out puff.

5madthings · 12/01/2013 21:11

They said they get child benefit but not tax credits. It was £180? A week child benefit,they wont get it for the elder two? One has left home and the other is 18? And working,

Oodsigma · 12/01/2013 21:19

Just posted on the other thread but if you look on right move at houses in morecambe there's 10 bed houses at under £200k so if they bought 10 years ago or more they could have paid a lot less

Catchingmockingbirds · 12/01/2013 21:20

It was an ex care home they bought too.

EasilyBored · 12/01/2013 21:27

I don't know about the resources etc, I think most of us live much too wasteful lifestyles to judge them. However, I just don't know how you could split your energy and time between 16 kids, give them all what they need, and fall apart. It must be so draining emotionally and physically.

EasilyBored · 12/01/2013 21:28

And NOT fall apart.

Catchingmockingbirds · 12/01/2013 21:32

And have the time and energy to make new babies too! :o

wonderstuff · 12/01/2013 21:52

I started watching all judgy, but actually it really opened my eyes, it was a great programme. They seemed happy, well cared for, and dh and I both thought how wonderful to have so many siblings - there seemed so much joy in the house. I was struck when she said she didn't want any of them to ever leave home, because a) I wondered if they would all want to leave quite young, but the elder daughter was happy to stay with her baby and they did all seem very content, and b) we only have two and find them so draining that we do think about it not being forever and one day they will be grown and how nice that will be, but they seemed so happy to be raising children.

They weren't expecting the eldest to parent the youngest either - on holiday they could have split some of the younger ones into the caravan with the elder children, but they didn't, they made sure the older ones had a nice time. I would have been shitting myself on that beach though - very difficult to keep an eye on so many at once.

I did think she must never had had a proper job, and in 15 years what is she going to do with herself? I suppose there will be plenty of grandchildren! I wonder how the child benefit cap will affect them, I imagine that he earns over £50K - would be a big blow to lose all that CB.

Good luck to them though - they seemed to be doing a great job, raising lovely kids! A generation ago families this big weren't unusual, I imagine in Ireland and Catholic parts of Europe you still get families this big. Not often telly changes your opinion, and I genuinely see large families differently after watching that.

Catchingmockingbirds · 12/01/2013 22:13

If all their children had as many dc as they did there would be 256 grandchildren - that's a lot of birthdays!

BsshBossh · 12/01/2013 22:24

I have one child only, through choice, but I felt alot of unexpected warmth towards this family. The parents clearly love their children and have a routine and parenting style that works well for their large family. The children themselves seem lovely, well brought up and well-adjusted (as far as I could see, but agree they should have been interviewed more). It wouldn't be for me as I am too solitary and introverted to have a large family, but watching this I thought they are the perfect sort of parents to bring so many children into the world. Really enjoyed it.

BlackholesAndRevelations · 12/01/2013 23:16

I haven't watched this yet but wonderstuff- I'm sure I read that they earn £30k from the business.

I have no issue with families raising as many children as they want- as long as they pay for them, which these parents somehow do.

Mia4 · 12/01/2013 23:19

I thought it was a great programme and interesting, did feel sorry for the young one who felt that the kids got a bit pushed over when older.

Interestingly, I watched with one of my best friends (who was adopted at birth) when both parents gave that bit of information she turned to me and said that that was likely why they kept having kids- to replace and fill the hole that having no biological family who 'wanted them' felt. She admitted she had felt the same, hence why she'd wanted, but couldn't afford more than 5, a big family.

pigletmania · 12/01/2013 23:44

They seem like a very nice family, but come on its time to tie a knot in it now and appreciate what you have. It's not only selfish on the other kids but Wth every pregnancy it carries a risk to her and makes it more likely she will have complications.

Dryjuice25 · 13/01/2013 01:04

16Kids and no stretchmark!!! Wonder woman she is.
But I think its time to stop now. Enough is enough

pigletmania · 13/01/2013 01:07

She said that se has no plans to stop. I was watching the programme last year and a couple of te children sad ut was too many and she should stop. Really they should be thinking of the kids they do have, I don't think they get very much individual mummy or daddy time

LadyBeagleEyes · 13/01/2013 01:07

I honestly think she doesn't know when to stop.
IMO she will continue to want babies, as each and every one of her children grow up.

Original poster
thatisall · 13/01/2013 02:12

I just want to make a comment about those saying the programme 'glorified' teenage pregnancies?
Shall we hide teenage pregnancy away instead? As a teenage parent I was shunned, reviled and belittled yet I know for a fact I am a enter other than many in their 20s 30s and 40s,
My dd is well rounded and I have worked hard to support her. She's how 10.
My midwife told me that in actual fact she wished that people had their children between the ages of 18 and 25. She felt it was the Kat responsible time to have them as children need a healthy energetic parent, whose body is able to recover from birth much more than they need money and a few extra years of experience.
The reason they were on tv was the Humber if children they had. The fact that one of their children, now an articulate, hard working woman was now a mother doesn't really come into it???

OP posts: