Sixteen kids and counting....

[BarnYardCow]

Anyone else looking forward to a new episode on Friday where I think they have just had number 17, plus one of the elder daughters is expecting too!

[janey68]

Each to their own, and I don't see how anyone can object when they are paying their own way. But two aspects would bother me: bringing so many children into an already over populated world, and also, if the family business did go under, they'd be relying on huge amounts of state welfare to get by. But fair play to them they've managed this far.

I also found it a bit sad that their lives seemed to be so functional. Cooling dinner, doing the laundry and making beds is something most of us do because it has to be done, whereas for she, that's become her whole life. From age 14 she's had babies and done housework which seems a very narrow life. I thought noel came across very well and was so patient and hard working. I do wonder how sue will cope when she can't have more kids though, and whether she'll be a nightmare interfering granny

[BarnYardCow]

I thought they were a lovely unspoilt family, and it was so cute seeing the little ones helping and being mummy to a brother or sister when the mum and dad were away. And loved how they just bunged them all in the mini bus and drove all the way to France for the holiday. We did a 12 hr journey last year, and that was long enough for me!

[juneau]

I thought they were a lovely family too and the kids were so nicely brought up - despite them obviously not having a huge amount of time to dedicate to each child.

What was weird though was that it got me thinking about all the DC I don't have. I have just two and I looked at their enormous brood and thought - blimey look at how many DC a healthy, fertile woman can have if she does nothing to prevent it! Made me feel a bit feeble for stopping at two, tbh.

[FrillyMilly]

I'm just watching as sky plussed. They seem nice enough but all the children keep saying they hope she stops having babies. I wonder if that bothers her. I didn't understand why so many of the children had bottles or why 3 of them shared a bed. It's great that they support themselves but as a pp said what if the bakery was to fold. How would they survive financially.

[Oodsigma]

It mentions bed sharing in the programme & showed the empty beds because the children kept wanting to sleep together.

[SavoirFaire]

I don't think many people think about what would happen if our business went under/we are made redundant before choosing to have another child. Do we? He may well have good insurance in case of that eventuality in any case. They may well be mortgage free. Frankly we know nothing about their financial situation other than that they seem to be able to maintain a happy and healthy home of their own accord right now, which is no mean feat with that number of people under one roof. Good for them.

They all have their own beds (watch again). However, the children often choose to bunk in together. I have a friend with 4 children and A&E frequently finds all of them in a single bed in the morning. Quite common in big families I think and quite lovely.

[Fairylea]

Unless I'm wrong she was 14 and he was 19 when they had their first baby.... !

Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things but still a bit shocking really.

If a mum writing on here that her dd was pregnant at 14 to a boyfriend of 19 everyone would be horrified and saying theyd never last etc.. and here these two are with 16 dc all these years later.

[5madthings]

She was 13 and he was 16 when they got together and they had their first a year later at 14 and 17. They didn't live together at first and there is a five yr gap before their second in which time they moved in together and got married.

[FrillyMilly]

To be completely honest our future financial situation plays a big a part in deciding whether to have more children. I need to know I can afford to keep our bills paid if one of us is made redundant. I have no reason to suspect that one of us will lose our job but its not an uncommon occurrence at the moment.

[SavoirFaire]

She frequently finds....

[PetiteRaleuse]

at your typo SavoirFaire. That would be worrying...

[juule]

They must be wonderful at managing their finances.

I know when we thought about a minibus, the insurance per year would have bought a small car. I must have looked in the wrong places.

I'm also puzzled how her labour was 20mins when she was in for 4 days but they said her labour had started after 36hours.

[JambalayaCodfishPie]

Juule, because of complications, they wouldn't let her leave. But they also couldn't find a bed to induce her. So she waited on antenatal for several days.

[AlwaysReadyForABlether]

I thought they came across as a really lovely family. The house looked well kept and all the children were well dressed and spoke very well to camera.
I don't know how they find the energy though. She was 3 months pregnant when the youngest child was only 5 months old.
She looks amazing too - so young and fresh faced. I don't look like that and I don't have any DCs.

[juule]

Jambalaya I know she went in and they had no beds but then it said 36 hours after going in she was in labour but she was away from home for 4 days.

[juule]

"I thought they came across as a really lovely family. The house looked well kept and all the children were well dressed and spoke very well to camera."

Completely agree with this :)

[JambalayaCodfishPie]

She said in the phone call to oldest DD that they weren't coming home tonight, probably tomorrow? Does that add up?

[AlwaysReadyForABlether]

And I thought the kids all seemed really well behaved. I am one of four and I remember how excited and hyper we used to get if there was any visitor in the house. Can't imagine what excitement it must have caused having a whole film crew in their house.

[juule]

jambalaya not really :). That call was on the first day.
Doesn't matter really. Just puzzled me.

[girliefriend]

Have just watched on 4od, thought they all seemed lovely but a bit bonkers as well!! My mind can not even start to comprehend trying to sort out that many kids!!

I also think its a tad irresponsible and selfish when the world is already ridiculously overpopulated.

[Oodsigma]

Re finances. I looked on right move earlier and there's still 10 bed properties in morecambe for under 200k. A few large properties under £100k so buying 10 years ago!

[5madthings]

Yes they bought it years ago and it was an old residential home and needed lots of work apparently so they probably got it quite cheaply.

[IrnBruTheNoo]

" if the family business did go under, they'd be relying on huge amounts of state welfare to get by"

Janey that's what I thought as well. It's rather selfish to fulfil your own ambition of having a large family without considering the repercussions of what could happen if the business goes bust. Surely stopping at two or three would make more sense, as it would be less of a burden on the State.

I like the idea of having a large family, but due to financial reasons (like so many others out there) we have stopped at two.

In spite of this, I do agree they are a loving family and all the children seemed to be raised really well, with lots of laughter in the house. I take my hat off to them for managing to raise such a large brood! They do appear to have the patience of a saint.

I did feel sorry for a couple of the children who just wanted to be left alone to sleep, yet they were getting pestered by their younger siblings. They didn't seem to get a minute's peace!

[janey68]

They are certainly a loving family, but many of the children did say they wished she wouldnt have more babies , which made me wonder whether sue is doing what she wants rather than what may be best for the whole family.

A couple of things: did anyone else notice that it implied noel drove the entire 21 hours to France?? It mentioned him going straight off to the pool to supervise the kids despite having been awake for 36 hours. Not Very safe. Why couldn't sue share the driving, particularly as it was made clear by the kids that its sue who wants frequent holidays. Being pregnant doesn't render one incapable!

Also - minor point but very unfair to have daughters called milly and Tilly. Poor kids!

[pigletmania]

Yes they are a lovely family, but need to tie a knot in it really. It is selfish on the other children, Te doctors have told them that with each pregnancy cartels a risk of hemorage, so she could die. This would leave those kids without a mother. The ady said sh is not addicted to having chidren, oh yes you are the average person se not have 16 chidren. Just enjoy what you have!