Who's watching 16 kids and counting?

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

Anyone?

Spero.

I was talking only from an educational point of view. I think with that many children they would all be mucking in helping each other and raising the younger ones irrespective of H.ed.
Ah, your poor friend it must be a shame to feel you have missed out from your mums love.

I think it's all very well having a big family if that's what makes you happy BUT, the older 2 Sullivan kids appear to go above and beyond what they should have to do at the expense of their own lives and freedom.

Does Mummy Sullivan (and her husband, although he doesnt seem to have much to say for himself) maybe not want her children around her 24/7 so they can look after each other? Because without say, Caitlin, for example who would look after the younger ones while she's busy producing more babies?

I dug up this article on the Sullivans because I remembered reading a bit about them a while ago. There are 2 older children from a previous relationship. The eldest daughter is hardly ever seen, so I think she must have partly escaped or not be as committed as the others.

The more and more i watch the Sullivans the less comfortable I feel about it. At first I sort of understood the self-sufficient mentality but I think combined with Home Ed and the constant mentioning of the outside world like its some evil force.

I think the isolation of the children is cruel and controlling and won't do them any favours in the long run, even the least social teens I know would not be happy seeing their friends once every 3 months (although that did mean she must have friends outside of the internet but I think these are all from girls brigade). Also has anyone noticed how Caitlin dresses very 'modestly', I think its a conscious decision as opposed to her natural tastes.

On a previous programme and in a feature I read about them they both talked about their dedication to god & christianity including the family reading the bible often, I think its strange this hasn't received a mention. Tanya keeps talking about a mind of their own and free will but all she is doing is cultivating children to think exactly as she does or her religion requires. Very selfish and shortsighted.

I don't know how she manages to Home Ed all those children with toddlers and babies about.

I only have four, two preschoolers, two at school. An hour of homework is a nightmare, I will admit to plonking on cbeebies to occupy the little ones whilst I concentrate on the big ones. I'm a SAHM too and my bum doesn't hit the sofa until gone 9 most nights, the washing is never ending and that's with just 6.

I feel sometimes that I haven't even spent 10 minutes talking to one of the older ones all day, I anguish over giving them all enough time, I simply couldn't have anymore children so take my hat off to those that do.

tracey seemed very nice and calm, and faaaaaaaaaaaaaaar to nice of her girls to drop them off at 10pm, then pick 2 up at 2.30am and prob the other 3 at 5am

why dont they either all come home together, if she wants to pick up

or get a taxi between the 5 of them?

poor bloke being only son

she will miss them when all gone, think she /they would make lovely foster parents

tanya, seems a little obsessive, totally mad to want to home school all her children and tbh i think children need to go to school to make friends/have a life away from home

plus as usual seem the older ones look after the youngest and thats not fair :(

It's weird that the older two aren't counted in the family numbers (or are they?) if not then its like they don't exist or aren't as important which is sad.

The older boy must be the sad one I see essentially looking after the children - but oooo! No sign of Stephanie! Very interesting article. Looks like Stephanie has found pastures new.

I think I saw a quick shot of Stephanie but I think she is much less involved in the whole thing.

Ben is apparently 19 now, so what is he doing? Aside from childcare, I think they would have mentioned if he was at uni, and he is past A-Level age. I did think maybe learning carpentry with his Dad but again I feel that would have been mentioned. I'm sure he must be doing something (I suppose could also be distance learning like the OU) but it seems so crap if he is having such restrictions placed on him.

Also think the article is wrong, they are Tanya's children not her husbands. She had her first child at 18 or 19 apparently and is now 37(?). I think Tanya is not talking about an earlier section of her life for a reason.

Tanya seems awfully keen to stress how unconventional she is ( never seen anyone look quite so conventional but by the by ) and how they shun society and yet I doubt they have any qualms at all about taking all benefits they are entitled to. which, judging by their house and the fact that he's a carpenter and they have 12 children, are probably quite substantial.

Tracey - Martyr Mummy, yuk.

I have no problem with people having however many children they choose providing they can afford them. if you are relying heavily on benefits or are so squashed that pre teens are sleeping in with you, then you cannot afford them.

I want to know what Tracey's husband does so the can afford a range rover!

Tracey's husband is a mechanic. The son then drove off with the range rover, I think it might have been his car.

I was impressed with Tracey. I wouldn't want to be that involved with my children, but they all seem happy and healthy, lead normal lives and aren't controlled as such. Her children clearly feel they can rely on her but are still moving on with their lives. The house is clean and they are all provided for. Ok she is very intense but they is clearly a lot of love between them all as a family. I think they come across as a good example.

9 and 12 and sharing parents bedroom, thats wrong

they live in a 6 bedroomed house, so thats 4 spare as boy needs his own, so surely they could of had 3 girls in each and room to theirself?

is her preg daughter still living with them

but least tracey says she has stopped - still think she would make a fab foster mum

tanya and mike are strict Catholics, the Sullivans believe that children are a blessing from God and contraception is wrong. They feel the number of kids they have is not down to them- according to article online

so will she have more? and try and get to 17 to beat the radfords and have the title largest family in britain?

blondes like useless facts of info,so heres one

a woman in Russia gave birth to 69 children in the 1700s. She holds the record for the largest number of children born to one mother. The wife of Feodor Vassilyev gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets between 1725 and 1765. 67 of them survived infancy.

To be fair to Tanya, I am pretty sure the only benefit she claims is child benefit.

I don't have an issue with any of them taking any benefits, its more I feel as though Tanya is almost indoctrinating them. But then I suppose the are her children and free to raise as she pleases, she probably thinks I've indoctrinated my DC with immorality.

I don't think there is ANY almost about it. She is depriving them of any meaningful contact with the outside world. Doesn't look like she would brook any disagreement, so so much for 'thinking for yourself'.

Hmm, so what does the Catholic church say about children born out of wedlock or divorce? Which is where her eldest two have come from. Or is she, as I suspect, of the Pick n mix variety of Catholicism?

Im envious of Tracy she was carrying a Louis Vuitton alma vernis. Wonder if it was real

Watched last night with DH, who howled with laughter at "don't kiss them all, we'll never leave the house" as Tracey 's husband was trying to get her out the house for their anniversary meal!

I have one child. My child has left home and I feel perfectly fine about it - life goes on.

The fact that these women want to hang on to ALL of their children, and are close to shackling them to the maternal breast, makes me think that they have some sort of problem.

I know it's a funny thing to be worried about, but I was getting a bit concerned that she didn't let them go outside to get any vitamin D. Thy don't seem to go to the park and none of them had wellies on, which you'd need in a garden that muddy.

lol about the wellies...... surely they'll need them on the farm!

giraffe I was baffled by the lack of wellies too. I'd go apeshit if my dc's started jumping in mud with white trainers on.

Yes, Tracey would probably make a lovely foster parent. She seems to have the enthusiasm for it.

I'm not sure which family made me raise my eyebrows more to be honest. On one side there's the family that appear to have very little interaction with the outside world, to the point where a teenage girl has to socialise mainly online with friends she will probably never actually meet , and on the other is the controlling mother who appears to be completely unable to bring her children up to be independent people.

The homeschooling thing bothers me a bit. I am sure that plenty of families manage it very well, but in this case how does she find the time to do it properly? I've got a 5yo and 7mo and there is no way that I would have the time to dedicate to teaching the 5yo whilst entertaining the 7mo and keeping on top of the washing/cooking/cleaning etc, and that's with only 2 children, not 12! And she's harping on about self sufficiency whilst doing an online tesco shop . But I think what concerns me the most is that after 5 sections she's in serious danger of serious complications with every pregnancy, yet she clearly doesn't intend to stop. What happens to the children if she's bedridden for weeks?

And Tracey needs to cut the apron strings. I just can't believe that she went to that scan! And why do they only go out once a year? Their youngest is 9, it's not as if they're short of potential babysitters? And how on earth did they conceive so many babies if they haven't had a room to themselves for 29 years? Odd, odd, odd

The sullivans are very selfish, leaving your 13 year in charge of 8 kids