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

Watching documentary about the family with 22 kids!

153 replies

mothersdayhmm · 16/04/2025 20:37

The Radley family. How do they do it? They seem to be really good parents actually. I cannot imagine how you cope with so many kids though. My blood pressure is through the roof just watching this! There are multiple dogs as well! I have 2 kids (adults now) and that was enough for me. How will they cope if all 22 go to Uni? My brain is fried!

OP posts:
BlusteryLake · 16/04/2025 20:43

The Radfords? I think it's safe to say that all 22 won't be going to uni, so I don't think that's something on their radar. The oldest is already about 30 I think.

1AngelicFruitCake · 16/04/2025 20:44

I assume (happy to be corrected) that going to uni and each child being able to pursue their own hobbies and interests, is not on their radar.

Mermaidsarereal · 17/04/2025 10:17

I don't know what it is about the parents, I can't put my finger on it but I really don't like them! 🙈

KimberleyClark · 17/04/2025 10:24

No one who has 22 children is a good parent.

Namechangetry · 17/04/2025 10:44

What has given you the impression that they are really good parents?

Also you do realise that the mum was 14 and the dad an adult when the first child was born?

Dotjones · 17/04/2025 10:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MellersSmellers · 17/04/2025 11:03

I am one of 6 and I've always thought that while a big family can have some plusses, there are only so many hours in the day and the very best of parents just get stretched ever more thinly the more children you have.

Moveoverdarlin · 17/04/2025 11:06

They won’t all be going to uni, I saw an episode a few days ago where the 20 year old daughter has just got a council house of her own and is living there with her two babies. And the cycle continues.

It looks chaos to me. Reminded me of a children’s home in the 1980s.

PhilippaGeorgiou · 17/04/2025 11:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I can't pass judgement on the parenting skills of this family as I haven't met them or spent any time with them (watching people on TV not being any true representation of anything other than what sells programmes), but I am quite positive that this is not scientific evidence of a "direct correlation" between parenting and the number of children. You went and found facts that proved what you wanted to prove.

Dramatic · 17/04/2025 11:17

I know it's not comparable at all but I have 5 kids, I ferry them to all of their chosen activities, they all have time with just me. I make sure to make a big fuss of them on their birthdays etc and the eldest is off to uni in September. Not all big families are uninterested in their kids

But yes I think with 22 it would be impossible for them to all have their own hobbies and interests.

KimberleyClark · 17/04/2025 11:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Boris Johnson 8, enough said.

bluetongue · 17/04/2025 11:25

Elon Musk wants an army of his kids. Enough said.

Caspianberg · 17/04/2025 11:26

The odd episode I have seen, it’s always chaos.
The whole family does something, kids lost or screaming, and the mum just hazzily sits around saying ‘ yeah it’s chaos’. Without ever really trying to calm the chaos.

I couldn’t cope with that.

FanofLeaves · 17/04/2025 11:27

They’re not good parents, but they are very good at training up the older ones to be responsible for the younger ones and all the dogs/cats.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 17/04/2025 11:28

Mermaidsarereal · 17/04/2025 10:17

I don't know what it is about the parents, I can't put my finger on it but I really don't like them! 🙈

The man was an adult and the woman was thirteen when she got pregnant.

She still simpers to him.

From a psychological horror point of view it’s a fascinating watch.

Also, don’t the children all have creepily similar names? Sophie, Chloe, Phoebe, etc.

MrsSkylerWhite · 17/04/2025 11:28

KimberleyClark · 17/04/2025 10:24

No one who has 22 children is a good parent.

This.

JackJarvisEsq · 17/04/2025 11:29

You must not have seen the episodes where they lock the children in their rooms at night by taking the door handles off, where the middle children tell the interviewers they are sad or the one where the one child who managed to go to uni was guilted into coming back home

kizzywizz · 17/04/2025 11:32

She was 13 when he got her pregnant, 14 when she gave birth and he was 17. This fact seems to be glossed over because they stayed together and got married. The mother seems very childlike, it's as though she is stuck at age 14.

wingingit1987 · 17/04/2025 11:33

Dramatic · 17/04/2025 11:17

I know it's not comparable at all but I have 5 kids, I ferry them to all of their chosen activities, they all have time with just me. I make sure to make a big fuss of them on their birthdays etc and the eldest is off to uni in September. Not all big families are uninterested in their kids

But yes I think with 22 it would be impossible for them to all have their own hobbies and interests.

Due no.6 soon and I echo everything in your comment. We bend over backwards to make sure that our kids aren’t disadvantaged.

SJM1988 · 17/04/2025 11:34

Aww I love the Radfords!

You have to remember their oldest's are now in their thirties so they don't have all 22 together. I think something like 10-12 still live at home and about 4 are married/living with partners on the last programme I saw. Others have moved out too.

You only have to look at their social media to get that not everyone does everything all the time. They don't always all go on holidays together and days out aren't usually all of them. Alot are over 18 so guess they dont want to spend all their time with their younger siblings.

Not all will want to go to uni either. It must be harder for the younger ones if they get there and they get sorry we cant afford it but they always seem to find a way to afford things. If you look at the price of their pies, you will get how they make so much money through their business.

Daisyvodka · 17/04/2025 11:36

kizzywizz · 17/04/2025 11:32

She was 13 when he got her pregnant, 14 when she gave birth and he was 17. This fact seems to be glossed over because they stayed together and got married. The mother seems very childlike, it's as though she is stuck at age 14.

Glad to see this has been brought up several times on the thread already, she was abused by this man and I dont think they should be on bloody tv because of it tbh.

scoobysnaxx · 17/04/2025 11:38

You cannot possibly be the best parent you possibly can be, to all 22 children. I’m sure some of them have difficulties in various ways, whether that’s learning difficulties, behavioural issues or mental health struggles. Schools, homework, bullies, confidence, friendship issues, clubs, interests.

No way. In some way I’m sure some of them have been unintentionally emotionally neglected.

sometimes, especially with teens, they can be going through things and we just don’t pick it up.

the mother interests me. Why do you feel the need to have so many children. What is it about them starting to be a tiny bit independent and crawl/toddle than makes you go; I need another now. I think she needs someone to be completely dependant on her at all times. It’s odd.

scoobysnaxx · 17/04/2025 11:39

kizzywizz · 17/04/2025 11:32

She was 13 when he got her pregnant, 14 when she gave birth and he was 17. This fact seems to be glossed over because they stayed together and got married. The mother seems very childlike, it's as though she is stuck at age 14.

Yup this is what strikes me.

I wonder what the experience was like for her at 13 and why this make her do this another 21 times..

KimberleyClark · 17/04/2025 11:43

the mother interests me. Why do you feel the need to have so many children. What is it about them starting to be a tiny bit independent and crawl/toddle than makes you go; I need another now. I think she needs someone to be completely dependant on her at all times. It’s odd.

There are people like that unfortunately, they love the helpless infant stage but lose interest when the baby becomes a toddler and starts exerting their own will.

Unpaidviewer · 17/04/2025 11:47

They look like terrible parents. She loves babies and once they're older they are palmed off on the older children.

I am from a larger family and it was shit. Once you get past 3 you can't possibly care for them properly or give them the attention they deserve.