18 kids and counting C4 tonight (9pm 10/12/2015)

[seasidesally]

new episode shall we have a thread about it ??

There's a difference between leaving the kids behind to go on holiday (which I doubt many families do) and subjecting them to a lifetime of pseudo-neglect by dint of having so many children it's physically impossible to give them enough love, care and attention.

I do think the concept of one to one time with parents is a bit over rated. There are lots of two child families that probably don't get it either. In saying that in one of the articles it states that one of the children says matter of factly "I can't ever speak to Mummy as she is always doing the washing". I found that quite sad.

I'm happy to say that it's unfair on the children. This situation is in no way similar to a two or three child family.

I'm also happy to say that it borders on neglect as it must surely be impossible to meet the emotional needs of each child given the sheer quantity and their varying ages.

If they can't have any more they want to Foster, I can't see that happening. Concentrate on your own kids needs first.

ok i have just done a rough benefit checker

said gross profit £30k

put in 15 dependents

mum sahm

figures came out £719 tc and £212 cb and a few pounds council ta so rougly £943 a week

over £50k a year

anybody else is more than welcome to do another check incase ive made a mstake

When being foster parents, im sure the foster child has to have their own room so they will have no chance.

They woukd be asked some very difficult and personal questions relating to their kids and size of family, how woukd they ensure the child's emotional and psycholigical needs are met.

it is confused it's part of an addiction/obsession that they both need therapy for.

Fc have to have their own room unless it's siblings in a real emergency situation and the rules can be bent for a while.

Leaving aside the money and time spent with the children, how on earth is there time for household chores?
Nine loads of washing a day, hoovering, mopping, they have five dogs etc.
How is this even possible for two adults?

when do the dogs get out for a walk if noel is at the bakery and mums at home with pre schoolers

Seaside that's not taking into account the money they are likely to be paid from doing the C4 show, articles in the paper, advertising on their blog, product placement etc. I'd imagine they make a fair amount from all that too.

I personally think the Radfords are bloody bonkers, fair play to them for managing to keep the house in one piece. I have 2 that I struggle with, they put me to shame, really. I think they mean well, but it seems like they both have deep seated issues going back to their childhoods that need addressing.

I am a child with a lot of siblings (not as many as these families).

I hated it. I moved out at a young age as did some of my other siblings. My parents did very little with us. My dad worked and my mum has spent her life doing housework.

We were never expected to look after the younger children. The radfords do expect their children to do that a lot.

It'll be interesting to see what happens in the future like if any older children/ their partners sell stories or if the couple ever split up etc

There's bound to be some kind of insider go to the press at some point, about something

The organisation and work involved in managing that hose hold is enormous. Lots of things will be substandard, it's just identifying them, which is difficult from tv show.

Did anyone notice hardly any toys/ books in the house or the children's bedrooms?

In one of the previous programmes there was a massive custom built play pen thing (like a sand pit) in the living room where all the toys were thrown at the end of the day I was really jealous.

In addition to general emotional support I wonder how they expect to support their children's educational needs. I wonder what kind of help they give them with their homework and what kinds of activities they are able to participate in.

In one of the old interviews they said they aimed to give the young children 5-10 minutes daily for reading. The older ones were expected to do homework alone, although on the last series it said that Chloe did a lot of the homeworks. I really get the impression though that they don't have any educational aspiration for the children.

I felt sorry for the teenagers. mother so busy with meeting physical needs of younger ones that they miss out.
and no way do they spend 250/300 a week on food. she said they go through 4 boxes of cereal a day. thats 50 quid a week!

I'm afraid I find it difficult to believe that they are able to maintain any kind of regular homework schedule. It's hard enough with a small family but most of the footage shows mayhem in that house with the parents just about meeting the children's physical needs.

I agree that they don't seem to have many educational aspirations for their children (who can blame them in the chaos). There's nothing wrong with that but it's a shame for any of the children who are particularly bright and might have been high achievers in other circumstances.

no way do they spend 250/300 a week on food.

I can believe that. If you look at their website recipes the protein portions are tiny. Four chicken breasts for 20 people in a chicken bake, 1 large tin of tuna in pasta bake etc. They seem to bulk out meals with potatoes and cabbage which they get really cheaply at a farmers market. They said they don't usually allow snacks and they also use leftover pies from their shop for dinner too. The brand names I suspect are advertising/product placement as they previously said they couldn't afford brands.

They eat utter rubbish. I find it hard to believe that they only spend that much though, I spend £150 for 4 of us! Although have a couple of other colours on the plate other than beige....

I find the budget unrealistic as well. The children seemed to have packed lunches and there must be at least 2 children needing formula milk at any given time. I can't understand how they could manage on those figures.

I of nd it distasteful that families like this seem to be held up for admiration in the press because they have dozens of children yet don't take benefits. The implication being that if they can do it, anyone can. I watched a previous programme, and found it so frustrating I couldn't watch the others. The parents clearly have some unresolved issues. The mum in the previous programme spent hours ironing. It struck me straight away that hiding away in the basement ironing was a way of escaping the tedium of actually being with her children when they weren't babies. The other children seemed to be being ignored in favour of the newest member of the family. The girls are treated as nothing but helpers and grandchildren providers in the future. It's disturbing.

I have 4 children and can only wonder how much toilet paper and washing /cleaning stuff they must get through!