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Original poster

21 kids and counting

765 replies

thannyflaps · 03/01/2019 22:00

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

OP posts:
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ILoveMaxiBondi · 08/01/2019 12:30

Well there bloody should be!!!!!

😂😂😂

Oh take a break pet.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 08/01/2019 12:33

I have a 13 year old son. I would think there was something seriously wrong with any 17/18 year old girl/woman that was taking an interest in him.

Aeroflotgirl · 08/01/2019 12:52

Sue comes across as very vulnerable and easily led, hence Noel probably using that to his favour. I just don't get a good vibe from him. I remember in one episode, she said that she did not want any more, and he said, we will see about that! They have been told that each pregnancy is a risk to her body, yet Noel does not seem to care. Any caring and respectful man would get himself the snip,and say no more, and focus on the children they have. Very sad situation.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 08/01/2019 13:04

Do you think either of them actually understand the risk she is taking with each pregnancy and birth? They say they do but I get the impression they are only paying lip service to it and neither actually know what the female body goes through each time. I suspect because she has always had seemingly easy pregnancies and childbirth (Alfie excepted) she’s has never really had to face the risk. She is also risking the life of every child she conceives.

I know when I had my first baby I was young and clueless and had no idea of everything that could go wrong. With my second I was far more clued up and worried a lot more about the possibilities. It certainly put me off having any more and risking leaving my DC motherless.

evaperonspoodle · 08/01/2019 13:21

I don't think Sue is properly aware, or else she just wants another pregnancy so badly that she remains to adopt a position of complete denial.
I used to work with families in crisis and often saw men/women who were perpetrators/complicit in the neglect of their children. Many had learning difficulties and came from difficult backgrounds themselves and these were the ones who completely refused to see how anything was their doing. Sue seems to have this trait (NOT saying she is neglecting her children) with regards to how her children view another pregnancy.

Also in the episode where Chloe moved to a local uni because in her words it would be easier if something went wrong she could easily be on hand, yet Sue (who was overjoyed) said it was because she really missed being in a big family. I know these things could be edited but there does seem to be a gap between what the kids say and what Sue says they feel.

Noel has said before 'yeah we do wonder if they're getting enough individual attention' but Sue is adamant that she gives all of her children the same time and attention than if she only had 2 kids. This denial and insistence is often a mechanism of defense to protect yourself from what you actually know but don't want to acknowledge. I can't help feeling sorry for her.

BrieAndOatcakes · 08/01/2019 13:24

Do you think either of them actually understand the risk she is taking with each pregnancy and birth?

I'm not sure. In that last TV show she talked about not enjoying pregnancy as much since Alfie. I get the impression she is brought into hospital to be induced at a certain number of weeks, so that could be something to mitigate the risk & ensure she's monitored throughout labour? (Though it's still risky no doubt, 21 pregnancies must put a massive strain on your body, especially as she started having babies so young.)

louise5754 · 08/01/2019 13:31

I get that she wants a large loving family because of her upbringing. Just imagine all of the lives she could make better fostering kids. Getting them all set to move into a loving adoptive family. She could have still had a couple of her own kids too.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 08/01/2019 13:43

Just imagine all of the lives she could make better fostering kids.

Shock

Seriously??

Mummylife2018 · 08/01/2019 13:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MiceSqueakCatsMeow · 08/01/2019 14:00

I agree with Evaperonspoodle.

potatoscone · 08/01/2019 14:13

You are hard work

I only asked a question!

have spotted you on several threads over the past few days, causing problems on each one

Have you? That's rather interesting. Have you not spotted me on any threads where I haven't 'caused problems'? Or is it just the ones where I have dared to ask a question or disagree with someone you have seen?

You are either trolling or socially inept

You do realise I just asked a simple question? There was nothing intended by it, I just thought your second post was confusing, that's all. If that makes me a troll (I'm sure MNHQ can verify that I'm not), or socially inept (?) then so be it. Personally I just thought it made me look a bit silly for misunderstanding, but ok.

Emojis are perfectly welcome on MN! There is no limit as to how many a poster may use. HTH

Oh I know they are, but generally if you have something intelligent to say, a line of facepalm emojis isn't the way to say it.

PollyFlinderz · 08/01/2019 14:14

Sue and Noel met when she was 7 and moved to the area (or he moved to her area) as he was friends with her brother.

This aspect of it makes it worse as far as I’m concerned.

papayasareyum · 08/01/2019 14:49

its interesting that we never see the extended family or friends. Are Noel and Sues parents involved in their lives, do they help with the children? Do they have friends? They seem like a very very tight community, exclusive to themselves

FrancisCrawford · 08/01/2019 15:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 08/01/2019 15:50

It’s nothing at all to do with wanting a large loving family. She had a large loving family ten kids ago. He’ll, she had it 15 kids ago. This is about one or both of two things 1) she is addicted to the feelings of having a baby and/or 2) they have become dependant on the income provided by the tv companies and sponsors in return for having babies.

KittensAndCake · 08/01/2019 16:59

At 13, a 4 year age gap is a lot!

It certainly is! I would be horrified if my son said he had a 13 year old girlfriend - and he is only 15!

whatsthestory123 · 08/01/2019 17:25

Maybe its the whole attention aspect sue finds appealing

She dosent even seem to bothered about her grandkids,most would be telling all how wonderful etc they are,i think shes pretty self absorbed actually

SittingAround1 · 08/01/2019 17:39

They have an addiction which they can't control. Like all addictions it takes priority over everything else.
The children realise this.
Personally I can't get too worked up about them, as I think they are quite fascinating.

I thought their house was fine apart from the two little girls in the windowless box room. They should put a velux in.

It is definitely unfair on the older children raising the younger ones and I hope that they all manage to lead their own lives in time. Their childhood is a bit old fashioned in that sense.

What's most concerning is Noel enthusiastically declaring they'll be more children even when Sue seems reluctant (especially after Alfie). It's hard to tell if she would be able to say no to Noel or can't stop herself.

Aeroflotgirl · 08/01/2019 17:43

That is what I found about Noel SittingAround, he seems to be very in control, and what he says goes. Maybe there is an element of control in the relationship, I think she would find it hard to fight her corner, especially being under the thumb for so long.

Aeroflotgirl · 08/01/2019 17:44

I think she just resides herself to Noels wishes. She looks very worn down by it all.

MinorRSole · 08/01/2019 17:50

Well I can't imagine the prospect of being a single mum of 21 is that enticing. Not suggesting they aren't happy but if she did want to leave it would be pretty hard.

70sbaubles · 08/01/2019 18:40

She looks very worn down by it all
She looks fucking better than me, she doesnt look worn down at all!

Deadringer · 08/01/2019 18:41

I think they are addicted to the attention they get from the media and all the perks that come with it.

explodingkitten · 09/01/2019 07:20

I'm sure a poster got sued before, and legally MN was forced to give their details in order to do so

Good luck with that. Plenty of us are posting from a different country with different laws.

I just wonder what will happen when Sue really stops having babies. Will he leave her? It seems to me he likes having her vulnerable.

Aeroflotgirl · 09/01/2019 07:45

Yes she may outwardly very good, but inside she just looks resided to it all, that this is her lot, there were a few incidences where she was being interviewed in her programmes, or you could see it in places in her programmes.