21 kids and counting

[thannyflaps]

Just watching the latest episode - how on earth do they afford to run that household? iPhones for the kids, holidays to Spain for 20 people, a new kitchen.

There is no way a bakery would generate that much money. Would channel 4 really pay that well for their participation in the programme?

Thanny Flaps

I agree Eagle, poor Sue driving that van late at night, heavily pregnant and being berated by Noel, I really felt for her, I would have slapped him one.

The teenager boys didn't wash before going on holiday. They were woken up about 10 or so minutes before they were leaving sad

I noticed that too. That minibus/plane will have been honking!

Who gets kids up 15 minutes before leaving for holidays? No time to eat or wash your teeth or anything.

Also I noticed sue said it was 20 past 8 and all the kids were sleeping and it was bliss. How is it possible that all those tiny children slept until 20 past 8???

Also I noticed sue said it was 20 past 8 and all the kids were sleeping and it was bliss. How is it possible that all those tiny children slept until 20 past 8??? 

They probably didn't get to sleep until the early hours.

I also felt really uncomfortable with the cameras filming the kids sleeping. My son is 13 and watched with me and he was horrified that they would be in their rooms without them knowing and film them in their underwear in bed. And those kids didn’t even know until it appeared on TV where all their friends from school could see it.

And wouldn't you be setting up for breakfast?

Laying table , getting bowls down .

Getting ready for a bath conveyor belt?

Have we ever seen them wash?

Compared to their day to day chaos I'm sure the radford kids will put up with the inconvenience of the cameras in order for the family income to be boosted enough to buy them nice extras and luxuries.

I seriously doubt that an upset 5 year old is ever going to go through that thought process.

I suspect Sue doesn't believe in reading because she never has time for it. In particular, neither of them ever have time to hear their children reading, so maybe she claims not to believe in it to try to justify that fact to herself. Likewise presumably supervising their homework. Local teachers must dread the prospect of the Radford children turning up in their classrooms knowing there is zero chance of any realistic support from their parents.

This thread has got very nasty.

Some bloody ridiculous comments on it aswell....especially the one about worrying about the dogs not being taken for a walk.
How the fuck you can accertain that from a heavily edited hour long program is beyond me plus there are so many people living there it's probably walked half to death.

I agree that the thought of my 18 year old son having a sexual relationship with a 13 year old child is deeply disturbing.

Looking at the house tour etc the building looks fine to me considering the wear and tear it must go through on a daily basis. Gobsmacked she only has the one washing machine though.

Of course there are far too many kids to get the same amount of attention. Of course the older girls appear to be Sue's childcare assistants and of course it's psychologically weird that they constantly breed the way they do.( At more Noel's insistence probably but Sue doesn't strike me as bullied, cowed and hesitant.)

But I don't think they deserve some of the comments on here.

I've just watched the program In full and thought Noel telling the little ones to leave the bathroom he was decorating was entirely appropriate. He wasn't abusive and screaming in their faces. Nor was he abusive taking his daughter out for a driving lesson. I actually think both parents are very calm under the circumstances . The 3am arrival on holiday was just a normal squabble - I'd have been far more snappy.

This thread now appears to be a chance to dissect and destroy every aspect of this family, becoming deeply personal.
People need to remember some of the older kids may be reading this.

I don't think it's particularly nasty.

It's like the stately homes thread isn't it?

All the new kitchens and the holidays and fancy means etc while the basic needs of the kids go unmet.

How can you make- lack of washing

• lack of nutrition

• lack of structure
• lack of discipline
• too much sibling involvement in the raising of the kids
• and filming kids in their underwear

Sound "nice" enough?

Enlighten us

Fancy prams

Nope not missing the point. Just don't see it as a big enough 'crime' to get your knickers in a knot about. Kids cry and scream about strange food on their plates all the time and that bit on the program was a fleeting few seconds

You totally ARE missing the point.

This isn't about he child being upset about the food. It's about the Radford family setting the child up, to be upset and distressed, whilst filming it on a mobile phone.

Disgusting behaviour.

People need to remember some of the older kids may be reading this.

Good. It might help open their eyes.

The only people that needed to protect these children from being exposed as they have been is their PARENTS. The parents have put them in this position, not us.

For God's sake. The Paella incident wasn't abusive.

Watch the you tube film on Christmas morning. They aren't abusive and wilfully neglectful people. You may not agree with the way they live their lives and the number of kids they have is crazy and by introducing the cameras into their lives they are going to invite negative comment sure, but you are portraying them as monsters.

Sometimes on here when people pile on the bandwagon perspective is lost and the comments on here get more hysterical.

And no I won't 'enlighten you' thanks. Patronising much?

I’m not getting my knickers in a knot, cushioncovers, though thanks for your concern.

Of course it’s totally natural for some kids to be wary, or to kick off when confronted with a plate of unfamiliar food. What’s not normal is deliberately setting up that situation in front of a camera crew and all sitting around, mobiles at the ready, to film it and have it plastered on tv and social media.

Anyone who thinks the material benefits- holidays in Benidorm, a new kitchen and new prams- outweighs the exploitation of those children, has seriously warped values

So bring
They aren't wilfully neglectful? But they are neglectful right.

You think that the amount of kids is crazy.

There was enough of an incident with the paella for you to know what we are talking about

It would seen you pretty much agree with everyone else tbh

And frankly potatoscone i've noticed your dominance and your comments on this thread about this family and to other posters daring not to agree with you and they are increasingly unpleasant, aggressive, confrontational and extreme.

i've noticed your dominance and your comments on this thread about this family and to other posters daring not to agree with you and they are increasingly unpleasant, aggressive, confrontational and extreme.

Eh? I haven't been aggressive to anyone?

I have my opinion, you have yours. I post mine, you post yours. That's all. No need for making it personal between posters. I don't care if people don't agree with me, I can still post my observations?

I don’t think anyone called the paella part abusive. I just thought it was set up in a bad way and made for uncomfortable viewing. My knickers are unknotted.

As can I.

So why because I disagree with many of you who seem to think they are child abusive heartless monsters am I feeling ganged up on slightly?

And what is it with having to pick out and bold my comments. Its not a school lesson.

They're back on insta

So why because I disagree with many of you who seem to think they are child abusive heartless monsters am I feeling ganged up on slightly?

I have no idea? It's just a discussion.

And what is it with having to pick out and bold my comments. Its not a school lesson.

WTF? That's how Mumsnet works

People post, people reply. In order for posts to make sense, people usually quote and bold what they are replying to. It's not something I have done to get at you, not sure why you would think it is.? Read any thread on Mumsnet and you will see posters doing the same.

And just to clarify, I haven't just quoted and responded to you. I have been on the thread since the start (that's ok too) and I have responded to many posters. Some in agreement, and others to disagree. It's called discussion and it's what Mumsnet is all about.

I'm baffled that you have tried to call me out for using a forum as it's intended to be used.

Oh. Mad I have never called them child abusive heartless monsters. Just to clarify.

*And

God this thread is just awful. What a bunch of bitches!! I have always quite liked the family and how they get on. I don’t think anyone is in a place to judge how unhappy the kids may or may not be as as well as we don’t know they’re happy you don’t know for sure that they’re unhappy either. From the show there wasn’t a lot of implying they were unhappy at all and they seemed happy enough to me. Only normal tantrums and arguments I seen. The prawn/paella thing was nothing. Can you honestly say you’ve never wound up a child. It was only for 30 seconds. Never given a young child a lemon and giggled with them? I can’t imagine everyone on here is a perfect parent.

No one would agree that a relationship between a 13 year old and a SEVENTEEN year old is ideal but when I was a teen my boyfriend was over 16 (17 I think) and things were actually different then. No I wouldn’t be happy if it was my daughter now but as I say things were very different then (and they are about 10 years older than me too).

It never goes down well on here when you try to look at the positives of someone’s life so I’m sure I’ll be flamed but I don’t think it’s very grown up to pick apart a family who seem to actually be doing ok and tbh it’s just nasty!!