The Radford's (not a mean thread)

[Curiouschlo]

Not sure if I have posted this in the right place. Not wanting a debate about them being bad people or not having enough time for the kids etc. I just have a genuine question of how???? Everytime I watch the blogs or programs.

I mean I get that they are an incredibly rare family. Most of us have stiff backs and are exhausted after a couple. My first how??? Is where do they get the energy from. My sex life is tricky now I have 2 lol! Also pregnancy is draining for alot of people. How an earth does she have the energy to cope with sickness, tiredness, bumps and appointments. It was bad enough taking one toddler to an antenatal appointment let alone several! How can she be relaxed about labour and getting all the kids settled and sorted. Plus I'm 30 and they are putting me to shame with their energy levels.

Next How??? The house! It's huge. It's always tidy. The kitchen is never cluttered and again I am questioning how mines (standard semi detached) is so messy and in desperate need of a deep clean with one child home all day and one at school. Also how do you cope washing clothes of 16 people roughly? Sorting uniforms and socks and shoes out for everyone. How do you have time to work out who's things are who?

My next how??? Is money. Again I'm not digging at them. I know the hubby works. I know they are grafters but still. A huge house like that. At least ten kids in uniforms. All needing clothes and costs and birthdays. They have a fantastic garden. Like me... Sue likes shopping at next. I can get my kids the odd bit from there and I love it!!! If I had that amount of kids though it would not be affordable at all. Not to mention on Christmas day this year the older ones all got designer coats and trainers, phones laptops etc. The kids got loads of toys. Once I've spent £150 each on my two and sorted everyone else in the family I'm abit skint.

Also sue seems so happy and able to listen to all her kids and be patient.

I know people feel strongly towards this family and she's been bashed alot of here. I'm not wanting to tear her apart at all. She seems very loving. I just can't work out how they do it. I also spend £120 a week on our food shop and nappies etc. Surely there's will be around £500 a week?

I have nothing against them but I struggle to believe those kids get any attention at all. They might get stuff but do they get read to at night, a chat after school, one on one time, help with homework etc? I'm far from perfect but I struggle with the 2 I have to make sure they have adequate attention whilst working and doing the bare minimum of housework.

The money now comes from all the tv shows, I suspect they get a lot of stuff “gifted” in return for advertising.

I also suspect that the house is a lot more chaotic when the cameras aren’t rolling.

I know what you mean. I think the kids are well loved and there hearts are in the right place. But yes reading books and homework etc. Projects. It can't be easy? Also getting everyone to school in the morning. I do feel a tad sorry for them when they have to open presents and be filmed for Facebook. I think the odd child looks uncomfortable. some of them enjoy it though and seem happy on Camera. I have one the same age as Archie is it? The 2 year old. I do sometimes think was he sort of pushed to grow up quick when bonnie came. He's adorable. I think it's because he reminds me of my son. I'm still treating mine like the baby

@JJPC yes I thought they must be getting paid for the blogs now. Otherwise why would they do so many. I suppose it's a good way of earning money. I just have noticed the kids are never in hand me downs and often receiving lovely new outfits. We all know how easily you can rack up £50 on a few tops and leggings. I can't even begin to imagine buying clothes for them all.

My next how??? Is money

The dad has a magic pie shop and they used to receive tax credits which they were once open about but aren't anymore seeing as they simultaneously claimed they don't receive benefits. And tax credits for all those kids will have been a substantial amount.

I assume now they make a lot of money from #gifted and #sponsored posts on their social media.

I think the older children do a lot of the caring work and other jobs.

I assume they get paid for their TV and social media work, plus related sponsored or advertising posts. That can add up to quite a lot - probably more so than the income from the bakery tbh.

Re homework help - didn't they once say they don't really help with homework? I assume someone must listen to them read, etc but I guess maybe the older ones help the younger ones with this too.

Tax credits
YouTube revenue
Freebies from brands
Older children (girls that is 🙄) raising the younger ones

(Magic pie shop )

Yeah I saw his bakery on the program. I bet he does quite well. Yeah I'm guessing the house they are in would cost around £500,000? I'm only guessing that figure.

I guess the girls are not doing what I did as a teenager. I never hung about with my parents. Mainly because they were not really those sorts of parents though. They didn't have much spontaneous adventure in them. They seem to be good fun and take them out for plenty of little family walks etc. Overall I can't see a big issue with them. It's just fascinating. I'm sure I read they get through 18 bottles of shampoo a week! That alone is expensive. Probably needing £50 a month for shampoo lol

I don't know how she does it. All those little ones needing baths and putting to bed. I struggle to get two to bed lol

Misandra - the various tabloids and social media stuff seem to put the family's 'salary' from the bakery as being between £30-50k a year.

What @Aragog said. If they were earning £300k, they wouldn't have been able to claim tax credits, would they? (Again, this is something they were open about as the Radford's didn't class them as benefits til someone pointed out they were).

Suppose it's like farming. You can be rich or poor. He obviously does ok. I'm guessing at one point it was hard but then they got famous/known and now they are given stuff and advertise. They were advertising drinking bottles a few months ago. I went on the website and they were shocking prices. They were gifted to them though so I don't think they would of got them otherwise. I know they were gifted bags for the younger ones too. I suppose things like that can be the difference between your family having nice things and not.

I was just thinking the dad will be nearly 70 when the unborn one is nearly 20. They can't surely carry on much longer before they will be too old for the kids. They are a lovely family but by the time these babies have grown up they will be pensioners nearly. I hope there energy can continue for the next 18 years. Lol

Maybe the mum and all the kids who are old enough are paid employees of the bakery?

Yes I know some of his kids help out. I think one was off to uni though on the last show.

I would think they make a lot of money from their YouTube and social media stuff. They have a lot of followers. This means they get sponsorship and lots of freebies. For example they went to Dunirell on holiday last year and I’m sure they said it had been given to them in return for them vlogging about it. I also think they got their kitchen free and that’s why they film so much in there. I’m sure the older kids help out a lot with chores, babysitting etc. With having such a big family then there are always hands to help out.

She will keep popping out children as her older daughters do the running around after the others as Sue gets bored with the children as they get bigger, and the one who went to university unfortunately came back due to pressure from her mother. I feel sorry for those children.

Maybe the mum and all the kids who are old enough are paid employees of the bakery?

At least two of the older children are mentioned on the bakery website as working there.

@CoolCarrie they all seem close though. Whilst I agree they should be free to be teenagers. They shouldn't have to carry siblings around and do the supervising. But perhaps because of there setup that's all they know and they are happy to do it. How do you know the older one came back because of sue? I am only asking in a nice way... Did she not come back because she was home sick? I am sure I heard them say it's hard to leave because they like being in the atmosphere.

I don't know if she gets bored as such. I think that's more an issue with she has more than she can probably cope with. I do sometimes wonder if Archie has lost out to Bonnie abit. But perhaps he's just at an age where he's happy toddling about. She seems to spend alot of time with Phoebe and Tillie. Halle too? Then as you go older to the boys around 7-10 you don't see them as much. That's possibly because they hate being filmed? I don't doubt they are happy and the kids will love all the holidays and freebies. But I do wander if one day they will be abit upset that everyone has seen their bedrooms, their birthdays etc. I would of hated my mum filming me Christmas morning as a teenager. Especially when you are in your PJ's and not looking your best. Maybe they have more confidence than me though? It's all very hard to get your head around. I genuinely think they seem a nice family but there are a few things I can't get my head around. To think sue has spent 20 years pregnant and she still wants to keep going and do it all again. The excitement is still very real this time. She's shared her pram. I think even I would be bored of prams by number 23. She seems to really love it all. I look back on having my two babies and I love the nostalgia and I remember it well. But there must come a time you think I would love a new born but realistically that's all I want. That's when you decide you need to stop. I'm already at that stage. I want to be pregnant again and experience those early weeks. But do I want another four years of nappies, no sleep, potty training and dealing with sickness and tantrums. Not really. I have to seperate that from the feelings of wanting babies. I wonder why she doesn't get to that point. She's been doing school runs for 27 years and now has another 10 at least ahead. Yikes lol I'm honestly knackered at 30 with two

I also suspect that the house is a lot more chaotic when the cameras aren’t rolling.

I spent a couple of holidays at a campsite that the Radfords were staying at. There was nothing chaotic about them at all. Organised, calm, and made it all look really easy. They just seem to have the knack of it. Really nice people. There were fewer kids, but none of them were grown up at that point.

Apparently there's a massive profit margin in baked goods, so it's quite feasible he's making a good living, enough to support a large family.
As for the rest of it, it's probably down to organisation skills, the fact that the children have been spread out over a long period, and the fact that not everyone is like Mumsnet posters.

@saraclara

I can imagine that actually. They don't get stressed like us. I suppose the kids have learned to behave and stuff too. They have done a good job of raising them like that!

I feel sorry for the children at school - their lives are SO unusual compared to the other children. I know that DCs shouldn't be bullied for things that make them different and hopefully school are on top of that but how do you have friends if your home life is like this?