16 kids and counting tonight at 9

[giraffesCantDateDucks]

I will be watching after I have done some work!

[SashaSashays]

That is definitely not neglect and those kids would not need to be taken into care, they're just a bit messy FFS.

Radfords seem happy enough as do the Salims although I think his lack of work is irresponsible but I suppose to some extent he's had the last laugh. I do wonder if the Radfords will eventually run themselves into the ground. In say 10 or 15 years I wonder about the state of Sues health.

Every time I watch these shows it just makes me want more DC, we only have 5, but since our first grandson was born we had agreed against it but must say I'm tempted.

DH is from a similarly large family, not 16 but in double figures and I'm from a family larger than my own. It's just normal for us. Lots of people ask the question about attention but I don't think either of us felt ignored, both our families are really close, especially all to our parents.

[expatinscotland]

I worked with a woman from a polygamous family. She and her husband had both escaped polygamy and had one daughter and considered their family complete.

She was one of 10 by her mother; he was one of 12.

She put it best: it's a disgrace to have more children then you can have time for.

[pigletmania]

That's right expat, I remember the first programme the Radfords appeared on, I recall one if the boys saying that nobody would notice if he left home, how sad. Their kids really did not want their are ts to have more kids, seemed tried with it all. The parents should do what's best for their existing kids, and stop being dame selfish

[pigletmania]

Mr Radfords said at the end that tey would keep on having kids, stupid man tie a knot in it

[SomeBear]

I've watched some of it with my 12 year old. She wanted to know what would happen when they get the usual winter bugs. I've thought about it and with this many children, it can't take much to tip the balance between managed chaos and total anarchy.

It was an interesting programme, made me wonder how I found having 3 such a problem!

[lollilou]

I think they said last night that the Salim have about £600 a week in benefits. He would have to have a very good job to earn that much wouldn't he? (Not bashing them just an observation.)
I felt sorry for the Salims the house was in chaos and the poor wife.
I could never have that many children and although the other family looked well cared for I think the lack of individual attention cannot be good for at least some of them. I had that in my childhood and we were only 4!

[sarahtigh]

salims will be affected by new benefit cap of £500 per week

[SirBoobAlot]

I agree... How on earth can they possibly get one on one time with their parents? Ever?

Bit sad, really.

The Radfords are obviously both addicted to having children though.

[AlwaysReadyForABlether]

I think the Radfords come across really well as a family. The kids are all well spoken on camera and the house looks amazing considering how many people live there. Noel and Sue also seem very much in tune with each other and work well as a team.
The Salims were a different story. The wife seems so down-trodden and depressed. The husband would drive me nuts as he just seems to muck about and never do anything to help. I would love to know what subjects his 7 degrees are in!

[atthewelles]

I felt sorry for the mother of the Salim family. She seemed pretty depressed by her chaotic messy surroundings and frustrated with her husband's inability to find a job. He came across as nice but a bit useless. To be honest, I think his wife would have a better chance of getting a job as she seems to be the practical one in the relationship while he seems to live in cloud cuckoo land a lot of the time but is good with the kids. A bit of role reversal might work wonders in that family. Also, if he had to look after the children on his own he might change his mind about wanting another baby.

The Radcliffes seem much more together and organised but then, they work as a team with Mr Radcliffe doing a lot of the cooking and household budgeting as well as running a business while Sue does most of the childcare and housework.
By the way, does their eldest child ever get mentioned? I presume he's left home but he doesn't ever seem to call around or attend family events.

[atthewelles]

BTW I am shocked at people casually saying the Salim children should be put in care. Why? Because they live in an untidy house and the mum and dad can't agree on whether or not to have another child?

Blimey, half the families I grew up with in Ireland would have been fostered out if that was the criteria.

[woodsies1975]

On the last programme I saw, the Radfords were saying that they were both adopted as children and although they had happy childhoods with their adoptive families I can't help but wonder if their "need" to have all these children somehow goes back to them being adopted.

[LemonBreeland]

I agree with comments above about the Radford children seeming more sensible than their parents. The children really don't get time with their parents.

Also wonder why the hell she irons anything. She also does 9 washes a day. I know that she uses washable nappies, but still that seems an awful lot.

She also goes to the supermarket every day. Where does she fit it all in.

I also know from myself that with 3 dc if I am ill for a couple of days everything collapses in the house and it can take me a while to catch up.

Mr Salim needs counselling to get over his need for more children to love. I do feel that he was acting up to the cameras and felt very sorry for his wife.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

why have 16 children?? the radfords do seem to cope and work - but still have visions of dad taking the door knob off :(

mr s - well words fail me :( glad benefits get capped at 500 but thats still a lot, more then what i earn each week

[chanie44]

The Radfords must rely heavily on the older children to help out. Like when the Mum went shopping, she only had the baby with her. The Dad works, so the younger ones must be somewhere.

I can't see how Mr Salim could ever have worked if he has 7 degrees - thats a lotta studying.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

i wondered this, unless she shops at night??

they said they dont have childcare, unless again grandparents, like when they went away

but yes the older kids do a lot and tbh dont think thats fair - they need to be children/enjoy their teens and go out with friends etc

mr s - how do all live in a 4 bedroomed house - again yes kids can share bedrooms but means no personal space if 4 in each room :(

loved the way mr s said he doesnt have kids for money, but that he loves having children - sure the money helps

maybe if they had a huge tidy up and sold/ebayed some stuff they may have some money

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

When I think about the time it takes for me to sit down with dd1 and listen to her read or help her with homework I have no idea how you would multiply it by 16. And when u rely so heavily on older ones what happens when they leave for uni or move in with friends?

[Blondeshavemorefun]

prob by the time the older ones go,the middle ones are older iyswim

poor mrs s as well - my heart is breaking as not enough space for the kids to have a bedroom each and wanting to send them to private school - that would be a veeeeeeeeeeeeeeery well paid job to send 11 kids every year

[atthewelles]

I thought Mrs Salim was setting her ambitions a bit high - private schools and a bedroom each do not normally go with very big families.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

That was a strange thing to say I agree but I think she's just trying to hang onto some hope. Hope that maybe one day she can have something more. Or that her husband will work and help pay for it all. Of she was married off at 16 and he's on control of the finances I doubt she has a clue how much what she dreams off will actually cost

[pigletmania]

Though te Radfords are coping just about, they want more kids so obviously that will put more strain on the family and resources. When they went away the Oder children were in charge of the younger ones and I guess this is so usually ,which is not fair. They are not their Chidren to look after and don't seem to have much of a childhood. I am sure they dont get much one to on time with their parents. Very selfish just puta plug in it and concentrate on the ones you have already they are not dolls to collect!

[bigTillyMint]

But will they go to uni? When will they leave the home? The eldest Radford girl was a young mum (like mum Radford) living with her partner in the family house - not looking like she was planning to go to uni at the moment. What will the children's life expectations be?

Having said that, I thought that both families seemed very warm and loving.

And I also thought that Mum Salim had a backbone - she had clearly not had any more children for a few years and told the old man to bugger off when he was pleading for more

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

There was an episode recently if the American version with the digger family. The toddler got her head stuck in the stair rails and when she got out mum had hold of her but she practically jumped from mum to one of the older sisters.

When the family dynamic gets screwed like that its hard to imagine the distress on the younger children when the older ones fly the best. Not oy has their sister gone but their buddy/ caretaker too.