Sue Radford, baby 21 is here..

[FortuneFrimble]

Daily Fail story here
21 babies! That's some achievement. I cannot believe her body is still in one piece. I feel sorry for those kids though. There's absolutely no way they can all have the individual attention they need growing up. Four kids maybe, perhaps 6 at an absolute push but 21 seems like collecting trophies for a hobby to me. It'd be interesting to see what families those children decide to have when the time comes. It seems like she's putting her own want for babies ahead of her existing children's wellbeing & that isn't healthy. I'm curious that she's practically guaranteed herself an endless supply of babies as her children have children. But they're supposedly paying for everything themselves so we're not allowed to say anything against them. I don't agree with it. Tell me I'm being U.

Let's just hope all those kids grow up to be well adjusted adults. I have a feeling some of those kids will have issues due to lack of parental nurturing.
It never ceases to amaze me how selfish some adults can be.

But hey they are making money from the media...so who cares

@wafflyversatile
There are pros and cons to all family arrangements. There is no one right answer
Whilst I agree that there is no one right answer, I think there becomes a point where parents are no longer making a different but still valid choice for their family and are objectively detrimenting their existing kids by continuously having more and more babies.

I just don't know why people are so keen to pretend that having 21 kids fits within the realm of a sensible modern family size. Parenting standards have changed and what was once acceptable when big families were the norm is no longer tolerated and in many cases would now be considered neglect. The single biggest indicator of a child achieving academic success is having engaged and involved parents. Sue and Noel would simply not be able to dedicate the required time and effort into the children to give them this advantage. All their resources (time, energy money etc) must be so thinly stretched that it is illogical to argue that their children aren't missing out.

@Cambalamb mine say that. But it’s not because they are forced into childcare, they absolutely are not but that does mean my husband and I never get a break and we are constantly ‘working’ rarely watch tv etc. He’s physically out working and I’m dealing with the house etc. My older children have seen that it’s very hard work but when asked are very clear that they have not been expected to help raise younger siblings.

I really hope she decides to stop before she dies giving birth if she had a PPH in her last few births.

OP, why are singling out Sue Radford and her husband as well? Takes two.

Aren't we a critical lot about other people's lifestyle choices?!

The way I see it, some individuals don't want kids, some want a few, and some want a lot.

And PPs criticising them for not nurturing their kids enough because they had so many, well, I suspect there is a lot of love in that family-even if it isn't the 150% attention and 'nurturing' a parent would give to two kids. To assume they are crap parents because they have a lot of kids is baseless.

It'll be interesting to see how those kids turn out. Someone on here said they aren't likely to be high earners-really, how do you know?!

No the lifestyle I would (nor do I watch their programme) but I wish them well as I would any other parent with a newborn.

Having kids isn’t about what the parents want. It is about what is good and healthy for the kids. If the current kids are suffering then it is really bad, although there isn’t evidence for this yet.
I never understand why people say they want kids without thinking about if they are good parents and have a lot of love and patience.

Someone on here said they aren't likely to be high earners-really, how do you know?!

I imagine because the family doesn’t subscribe to homework and none of the kids go / have been to university

*it will be interesting to see how those kids turn out

These are human lives we are talking about not some laboratory experiment.

Yes Bella, but their parents made a choice to put them out there for speculation.

She’s only 43, 10years older than me. Times and family sizes haven’t changed that much since we were young so I don’t don’t feel that is a factor, she isn’t 65!

Believe me, from my experience (age 63) large families weren't the norm in the UK then either. At least not where I came from anyway. A neighbour had 6 children and this was considered unusual.

What are the childcare ratios? 1:3, 1:4, 1:8 depending on the ages? So the younger ones would actually get more attention in childcare than they would at home.

Well let's just hope the parents choice does not come back to bite them.

Although it will be too late by then..and the child has to live with the effects of those decisions. Not the parents.

I find them so selfish and feel so sorry for the younger one who basically get passed on to a sibling as soon as a new baby comes along.

I worked a Saturday job with a 16/17 y/o daughter of our own local “Radfords” (though the mum’s reproductive system decided it was finished before she cracked 20). She was pregnant and so was her mum, they were due within weeks of each other.

Interestingly, the kids who’ve had kids have only had one or two - and at nowhere near the rate to match their parents own number without some octomom BS. It’s as though growing up being known as “one of the Jones” and being put on local telly and in papers freak show-style wasn’t a great childhood...

I’ve not followed their story, so have no knowledge beyond what I’ve read in the the headlines, but a couple of things occur to me.

I was involved some years ago in a project to reduce teen pregnancies, in which we learned we learned that the majority of teens who were actively seeking to get pregnant just wanted to be loved, and imagined that a baby was the solution. Given Sue’s history I’m guessing she would say similar.

My further thought is that Sue has never had the opportunity to grow up and develop her own agency. It’s hard to see that she gets validation from anything else that she does.

It’s very sad, but like other PP I’m worried that she will continue at considerable risk to her own life.

What a nasty thread most of this is, full of thigh-rubbers. Urgh.

There is obviously something in this woman's 'make-up' that compels her to keep conceiving. She seems outwardly happy with her 'choice'. I'm just glad those children are wanted - and that it's not me that feels as she does.

Great site for parents this one, eh?

I don't care how judgemental I sound. They are a very selfish pair of human beings. People defending them being allowed a large family, it's not hurting anyone... get a grip. Ridiculous pair. And those poor children. I'm off to drink my coffee now well and truly owning my Judgy pants.

, I suspect there is a lot of love in that family

I suspect there is a lot of resentment too.

I think it's the opposite in very large fami!ies, it is the youngest ones who benefit the most from time/attention. It is the middle children who were born into the 'sea' of siblings who never stayed the youngest to benefit and have always had caring responsibilities that suffer the most.

I’m sorry but I will judge.
I will judge anyone who brings children into the world simply to satisfy their own mental health needs.

Both parents were adopted . I think that is a contributory factor. There is a deep need there to fulfil.

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe

Just because someone want a large family doesn’t mean they should have one. In fact it is quite selfish to keep having child after child that she is unable to look after without the help of her older children and putting herself at risk each time potentially leaving her existing children without a mother.

I have three children, we would have had one more but I was advised of the risks to myself if I were to have another. I love my children too much to take that risk.

Great site for parents this one, eh?

So everyone on this site has to blindly support everyone, even if the parents are making poor choices for their children?

It's not nasty to point out that a parents 'choice has an effect on their children. Actions have consequences.

And these parents seem to be self absorbed with what they need. Creating a life is a gift not to be turned into a circus for spectators to view.

Great site for parents this one, eh?

Behave Lying. Do you always agree with every poster because they're a parent? No you don't.