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Telly addicts

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

393 replies

seasidesally · 10/12/2015 18:55

new episode shall we have a thread about it ??

OP posts:
AndNowItsSeven · 14/12/2015 18:07

I have two disabled dc ( one in pull-ups) so I have extra bedding and one spills food etc on clothing.
Plus my youngest are 9 months, 22 months and three so they either go through more than one set of clothes a day due to spills , potty training etc. Myself and dh get vomited on by the baby so our tops only last one day not too. Then there is weekly bedding wash not including the cot bedding often gets changed more often plus dd2's bedding. And finally there is towels, and swimming costumes, clothes from dd1 sports wear.
Honestly the machine never stops. We are saving for an industrial machine £2k Grin

LibrariesgaveusP0wer · 14/12/2015 19:03

I suspect that the volume of washing you create depends very much on the lifestyle of the family and the ages of the kids.

For example, when I was working I generally wore suits, or tailored dresses etc that would last more than one wear. On a weekly basis my washing would consist of underwear and a fairly light weight top Monday - Friday.

I am currently a SAHM with a toddler. My daily washing regularly consists of underwear, socks, jeans/cords, t shirt and jumper/cardie.

Likewise if your kids go to school in a smart, dark, dry-clean blazer then you create less washing than if you stick their logo sweater in the wash each time it gets tomato sauce on the elbow or paint down the front (i.e. daily for both my kids!).

Also, how mucky the kids are. I have two in school and wash 10x polo shirts a week. They are just mucky. Other people I know manage to have 2 per child per week in winter.

That said, your washing is very low Art. I mean, that must be two bedding loads, 1 towels and just a couple of clothing loads per week?

imwithspud · 14/12/2015 19:09

sorry you are very wrong the benefit cap does not apply to those working,so they get the £52k a year benefit plus wages

You can't say for sure that's what they getHmm You seem to be ignoring the fact that it is likely that they get paid a fair amount for doing the C4 show, revenue from their blog, product placement etc. Plus any magazine/tabloid stories they interview for.

I really really doubt they are 'raking in' £52k a year in benefits.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 14/12/2015 19:19

Also, let's say they do get £52k a year... It's not Loads of money for 20 people is it. We get double that, there are four of us and we're not throwing big weddings and buying new prams every nine months...

findingmyfeet12 · 14/12/2015 19:40

I couldn't imagine buying a new pram every nine months when I was saving so much on food. I'd rather spend the money on extra food or toys for the children.

seasidesally · 14/12/2015 19:57

Also, let's say they do get £52k a year... It's not Loads of money for 20 people is it. We get double that, there are four of us and we're not throwing big weddings and buying new prams every nine months...

it wouldnt be just £52 k you have to add the wage £30k

and you may earn double that but back in the real world the majority dont earn anywhere near that and manage,so i dont think approx £80k tax free is bad, what would they have to earn before tax would that be ????

OP posts:
GoofyIsACow · 14/12/2015 21:04

I have never watched any of the programme at all, I am going to watch on catch up.

She uses reusable nappies which would account for a lot of the washing too.

SpendSpendSpend · 14/12/2015 23:44

Im just watching this programme again and i agree with a pp that suggested Sue had mild learning difficulties.

Im taking in the way she talks and the way she is and i would say she does seem to show traits of having some special needs.

But i think dad does too

london32 · 15/12/2015 09:58

That's interesting if it is true spend spend , as that means somebody / people are helping them a lot with the management and organisation of all the needs of the children.

It can't just be Chloe, who seems more intelligent than Sophie or the older son Chris.

Do you think her mum and dad do a lot with the children? Lots of things just don't make sense here.

Autumn2014 · 15/12/2015 10:53

I didn't watch it all but as well as questioning the day to day living arrangements I wonder if the children have chance to develop outside interests. Do they have the opportunity to play sports, music lessons, go to beavers or brownies, swimming lessons, friends parties at weekends etc? It must be very difficult to logistically arrange hobbies and interests for that many children as well as the financial costs...

yankeecandle4 · 15/12/2015 11:28

Sue's parents seem to play a very supportive role. Her Mum looked after Chris while Sue went back to school, (according to newspaper) she came 3 days a week to help her out and on 16 KaC they stayed overnight with the kids whilst Sue and Noel were in hospital for a few days. According to interviews they take the children 3 at a time overnight/weekend breaks.

However Sue claims that she gets no help from her parents.

Noel's Mum was filmed saying that she hoped they would stop having children and enjoy what they have. She didn't seem very impressed. I would love to know how relations with extended family are as this isn't mentioned.

In the past they said that the children weren't interested in afterschool stuff as they just wanted to play together.

yankeecandle4 · 15/12/2015 11:43

I was wondering though clutching at straws as to whether or not their behaviour/lack of aspiration could be a regional thing? I don't know anything about Morecambe, is it an area of economic deprivation?

expatinscotland · 15/12/2015 11:46

No idea why people who churn out babies like dogs do puppies are something to be lauded in the meeja. These people coin it in on in-work benefits.

yankeecandle4 · 15/12/2015 11:48

expat but they still refuse to take benefits.

findingmyfeet12 · 15/12/2015 11:54

I don't know how they find the time or energy to make any more babies. It would be the last thing on my mind when I finally got a moment of peace and quiet.

howtorebuild · 15/12/2015 12:16

There is a control issue to regarding finances. Dad says she is a spendthrift, Dad says the family think he is tight fisted.

There does seem to be addiction issues around prams and babies. I also noted Dad has fears of being alone and having a large family means he won't ever be alone.

Gileswithachainsaw · 15/12/2015 12:21

I'm watching it now on catch up.

it's bloody chaos.

Wtf is she going to do if noel has am accident or is really ill. bow would she do the school run.

what of the bakery closes down. how would he get another job that allows him.to come and go fir school runs when there's another patent at home.

madness

Seeyounearertime · 15/12/2015 12:27

I think the pair of them should have had some form of counselling years ago. They both seem terrified to have a quiet moment in case they have to face up to some bad thing that's happened in the past, or they actually don't love each other anymore but the kids make them ignore it. Etc.

I just don't see how all the kids can have a proper upbringing? Parents are always worrying about pregnancy or a baby etc.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 15/12/2015 12:29

I feel most sorry for the older girls... I think they have an awful lot of responsibility. I think some of the young children said previously that if they have a problem they will go to an older sister rather than to a parent, and that's just sad!

Gileswithachainsaw · 15/12/2015 12:30

I'm yet to see the kids get any attention tbh
. she's just cleaning

and the 5 dogs. bloody idiots

Nodowntime · 15/12/2015 12:35

About homework - state primary schools normally don't give out homework apart from a weekly reading book and some spellings for older children, some more serious homework might start when they are 10-11, but it's the kids' homework, not for parents.

My husband is the middle one of three, parents professionals who were so busy with their careers they only "saw" their children once a year on holiday, and Dad read them a bedtime story every night, that was it. PIL tended to work weekends and evenings (from the office at home), the kids were expected to play outside or entertain themselves, there were never any after school activities (not saying that it's good, just stating that it's not anything unusual in 3 and under kids families.) My husband thinks he had a happy enough childhood, though he admits he barely knows his parents, because their life was all about work, work, work.

Overall amazed by the stone throwing on this topic, who decided, that the kids have to have that-this and that and if they don't get it, they are doomed? Kardashians are also one homogeneous mass ;) and I read a quote from one of them that having lots of siblings is amazing, it's like having ready provided friends (or i think at least a good chance of having friendship through family, due to sheer choice).
Anyway, I know families with lots of kids who are amazing and inspiring, and some not so...two-three generations ago most people had large families, and it's not like people in UK become so much happier and fulfilled and better nurtured by their parents since the average number of children became 1.7 or whatever it is.

Gileswithachainsaw · 15/12/2015 12:39

They do need basics though downtime

like to get to school on time.

if that isn't happening g because your reliant on someone else to make.it home.or you can't get everyone out the door. then you have gone too far.

Nodowntime · 15/12/2015 12:45

I understand the Radfords are not your average large family, but I enjoy watching them. And I strongly disagree that they are only interested in babies, she said herself she might not get to hold the baby all day, there are so many willing to play with her... Sue was upset when her daughter left for uni, her and her husband repeatedly said if it was up to them the kids would be encouraged to never leave the family home!
Anyway, my question is, does anyone else think that Sue and Noel look quite alike? It's not the first time I see husband and wife who look like brother and sister to me, apparently you are attracted to similarity (I personally don't get it, esp when couples look spookily similar, nearly like twins), but I wondered in case of two adopted children, esp from the same area, how do they know they are not biologically related? Is there any procedure, state provided DNA tests when you apply to marry? (Though I suppose by then it'd be a bit late Hmm)

Gileswithachainsaw · 15/12/2015 12:50

I don't think the look alike.
nut I do think they both appear to have some form.of learning difficulties. mot sure of there should have been some kind of assessment or intervention. whether they have the capacity to understand the implications of all these children.

they do seem heavily reliant on the other person i don't think either of them.can cope alone which is not a good thing. ( this isn't a husband/wife carer set up which is different)

the older kids take alot of slack which is not appropriate.

they ate truly fucked if anything happens to either of them or the older ones leave

MitzyLeFrouf · 15/12/2015 12:51

I found it quite depressing when the older daughter dropped out of university. Her parents seemed pleased if anything.

It's as though they can't imagine anyone wanting a life beyond a house full of children and a constantly occupied womb.

Depressing.