17 kids and counting

[bambinibop]

Anyone watching?

Interesting that the dad seemed keener to have more kids than the mum.

Perhaps she needs to listen to her body after four losses?

It would probably be better if they underwent counselling than tried for another.

They claim child tax credits. Sue has said so herself on another parenting forum that she is a member of.

I also find it a bit odd that how heavy the dad plays a role in the daily running of the children. Despite working from the very early hours of the day, he does all the packed lunches, school run etc. Surely she should do that bit?

They are starting to really mirror the Duggar family who are the USA's largest family with 19 (live) children. They have become a "brand" and give lots of parenting advice/workshops, in spite of the fact that it is the older girls who raise the children, not the Mother!

Sadly Michelle Duggar had several late miscarriages and then baby #20 died in the womb at 18 weeks, which is similar to Sue. I think that is perhaps the bodies way of saying enough at that point.

I do think the Radfords are a close family, with Mum and Dad more like friends than parents (they were delighted that 17 year old Sophie was pregnant several months into a relationship) and in this episode I saw Chloe in a different light; it seems they rely on her a lot. Noel said that she usually cooked with him, and baths the younger children. Sophie did say that she moved university because if something went wrong at home it made sense that she was close by to help, not because she wanted to.

I would love to see where Sue admitted online that they get CTC. I don't personally care if they take the full whack benefits, but I do wish they would stop going on about "wanting to show people that they can raise a large family without any help"

I prefered them before the last programme. It doesn't sut well with me hiw much the older girls do.

I would also like to see mire transparency in their finances. It could be said its no ones business but if you portray yourselves it this way at lesst be open.

My Dh is a high earner and we struggle with one income and 4 dcs.

Full tax credits for the 14 dc at home would be over £36500

I am.beginning to dislike them. I never did my homework with my siblings. I was never bathed by them, and I was never read to by them either. It was always my mum who did the parenting. I think it is bad parenting to rely on your older children to look after your younger children.

And I wish they would stop saying that they don't get benefits because I bet they get child benefit and maybe tax credits.

One thing I thought was odd was the food shopping.
They bought loads of food and then dragged it into the house in shitty supermarket bags. Surely if you were doing that much shopping every week (twice a week) you'd have a better system - crates/boxes for example. I know I would.

Apparently the shop daily.

I saw some of this. It didn't sit quite right with me either.

But I don't think. People should have more kids than they can deal with on their own. by that I mean if it restricts older ones social lives or educational opportunities or the ability for husbands or wives to work. (if they have a job obviously. and I mean if it affects how often someone can go.in on time or likely good of being called to come home. If that makes sense. I know. giving up work is sometimes a decision.people need to make. bit having so many kids your husband has to quit just to help you cope and then keep having more is a bit daft)

wouldn't wish what they have been through on anyone but they need to take more responsibly for the lives they are responsible for. like be on time to school etx

Not saying older ones shouldn't help but if you can't do bedtime and homework and cooking etc without your older kids or dh/w you have probably gone too far

I remember once during 16 Kids Noel was doing some DIY in the house which meant that Sue had to cook. She said herself that without Noel the whole house would fall apart. He certainly seems to do more than 50/50.

They have also claimed that they don't get help from grandparents or their older children. According to FB Sue's parents are actively involved in their lives and have groups of the children (4-5 at a time) for sleepovers. This programme showed that they do rely quite heavily on Sophie. Noel's mother made it clear in 16 kids that she hoped they would concentrate on the kids they have after hearing Noel saying he would like more.

They do seem to say a lot of things that then are obviously not true. On their website they claim that they never buy convenience foods and cook everything from scratch. However a previous programme showed Sue bulk buying fish fingers in Asda! Nothing wrong with that, but I would have thought that they are seemed a convenience food?

*they rely heavily on Chloe, not Sophie. Although when Sue and Noel go away for weekends Sophie usually takes half of the children and the GP's the other half (according to FB)

So that's why Sue seemed so delighted that Chloe had jacked in her uni course in Plymouth? I'm not clear whether she'd transferred to a university closer to home or was starting again next year, was that mentioned?

Chloe used to have Plymouth Uni on as her FB educational status. It was removed a good while ago and nothing has replaced it. She works in the bakery, but I'm not sure if it is a full/part time job.

It said that "luckily Chloe has been able to transfer her course closer to home"

I really hope that she doesn't get ropes into helping with the family to the extent she feels she can't leave her mum with the kids and go back .

sorry but am I the only one who thought the dad was a controlling twunt?
I would have thought a man laying kid after kid on to one poor woman would be a flag to SS?

No I think that too tbh.

The met and had their first really young. It would have been tough but she could have gone on to college or something on be kid was at pre school.

She's never known anything different than her life at home with the kids and I do wonder if he "kept her" there. Surely he'd want more for his older dd to be pregnant so young too.

She's still young and attractive and he's still marking his territory by getting her pregnant. I know it takes two but he's made her dependant on him..

and of course they get CB, WFTC, and CTC - it must be thousands.

It takes two to tango, Sue seems pretty happy to tango

Noel should tie a blooming knot in it and enjoy what they have. I hope that the loss of Alfie has made them thing and put things into perspective. She has had 2 MC and a stillborn, your bodies telling you something Sue! At the end she said she would not rule out more, I was , I hope she doesent get pg, it's just not fair on the children they already have. It's an addiction, I think in the first programme, she said she was addicted to babies, there you go!

I said it takes two. but his wife has been permanently pregnant and hormonal for years. someone. needs to be the adult and the one thinking straight.

Instead of going along with it perhaps he could step up and suggest she gets help.

I agree, it does take two. If she really dident want, there are different contraception she could take. Or yes, he could get the snip, but I doubt that will happen. They need counselling, that's for sure!