22 Kids and Counting

And not biting either

I think families of that sort of size are extremely rare in this day and age, which is probably a good thing because their carbon footprint will be enormous. The biggest threat to our planet is the human race, too many of us! So for that reason alone, I don't admire people who freakishly just carry on procreating I think it's selfish. I'm sure previous generations would have welcomed some sort of choice in being able to limit the number of children they were forced to bring into the world.

I do remember going to school with a girl who was one of 13, she was quite vocal that the quality of her life wasn't good. I remember her as a put upon oldest child within that family and extremely adamant that she would not be going down such a road herself.

i don't think the lack of one-to-one parental attention is the issue. that is quite a modern and western concept anyway. how many of us had that kind of up bringing. it was certainly not the norm in my day and surroundings.
my parents came from large families and it was the norm for the older ones to see to and entertain the younger ones.
but this family does seem a bit odd, esp that they started having children so young. i think the older ones find the situation embarrassing.
as to population i don't think that's such an issue, as so many women decide not to have children now, which was rare or not even possible previously.

NellG
I agree.

I think it's interesting to watch the life of such a huge family. They seem happy and I'm sure the little ones are well looked after, too.

It's very rare indeed to have that number of children. Wouldn't it be boring if all families were the same?

I’d have hated for my mum to have had so many kids that I was expected (and needed) to be a surrogate parent in my teens to a posse of little ones. A huge ask.

I think Saint Catherine of Siena was the twenty-third child of her mother. Think the mother outlived her too.

Relatively recently there was a minister on Skye (I think it was Skye anyway) who had twenty-three kids.

As someone has already said, this is extremely rare nowadays. Not worth fussing, or being judgmental, about.

My father was one of 11. The family remained close and cohesive, despite being geographically scattered as adults, until the end of their lives, and their parents were always important to them, so it can work.

But I am sure there is some science of numbers that can show that beyond a certain size groups break up, into smaller groups. I have had hints of that in my father's family, when one of the younger ones said to me, in reply to a question, 'we, younger ones really didn't know anything about that (whatever that was), only the older ones were included.'

I am so sorry for their children. There is no way they can be receiving the care and attention from their parents that they deserve.

He's a baker, they have a pie business, which employs some of the older kids. I'm not paying for their children (not even Child Benefit these days), so why would I have an opinion?

Definitely not a life style choice for me but each to their own. Leaving aside the over population issue the parents care for their children well. As Chardy said they support themselves with their business so nothing to do with me.
I understand what you are saying Esspee but there are many household with one or two children where the care is sadly lacking.

I was censured for having four children and always replied that my children would be an asset to the world, as they are (one daughter currently working in ICU on her days off)
As our birthdate is very low there is room for the children of anyone daft enough to want 22.

My grandfather was one of 13. It's only in very recent years that contraception has made small families the only acceptable way of living.

NellG

Sorry, just wanted to check something - so... we are not allowed to discuss and have opinions on one couple because it induces outrage and righteous indignation of epic proportions, but it's totally OK to judge, trash, slate and cast aspersions on the mental health of another family?

Ok, just wanted to clear that massive double standard up. As you were.

Please do tell me why this is different, I can't wait...

Dear me, where is the total trashing? Is this some kind of bid to turn this into some kind of Meghan bashing thread too
I ve just read as far as your post and this thread seems very polite to me

She must be addicted to having babies. The stress of being a child in such a large family must take a toll on the children. You never see any extended family or friends of the family when they shoot these programmes. I wonder why? That said, they say they don't rely on state aid for anythin, so they must make enough money thru the family's bakery business.

They dont have extended family ,I believe they were both raised and care and were desperate to have blood relatives.

Now they have

,As someone said up thread its their business,they keep their family not me .
I grew up in a street where my family was a small family there were 4 children.It was the norm for 8 ,10 ,12 and even one family of 15.That family of 15 gave nurses ,teachers two doctors and a lawyer to the country.I think the parents did a great job .Of course the children had jobs,one cleaned all the shoes one helped with cooking ,one hung out washing etc ,without exeption they were all nice kids and grew to be good adults .
This family shouldn't be slated for their choices,there are reasons for them and if they are happy then thats all that counts

raised IN care

Unfortunately I had my two children very late in life. I would have liked to have more. The new baby was so much like the Mum, she had her eyes!

As long as they're happy, it really has nothing to do with anybody else.

I think they've done exceptionally well from very poor starts in life.

I thought that was admired, generally.

I Watched the programme about the Radfords ! And although I think that 22 children is perhaps a bit over the top, they all appeared to be happy, well fed, well behaved and very much loved by their parents and siblings! It’s Sue and Noels business, they obviously provide for their family and good luck to them. It would be a strange world if we all agreed on everything and had 2.4 children! Life’s too short to get upset about other people, live and let live, and don’t watch the programme if it offends you. That’s it!!!

I don't understand why they had to close the bakery. Surely food suppliers are essential retailers? Also, they had to home-school nine of the children, with another four pre-school children in the house. But if they were essential workers supplying food wouldn't the nine children go to school?

There is a lady here who has 14 children. She is the daughter of a lady I used to work with. They are very committed Catholics and their belief is that they are meant to be and nothing should stop children being born. I don’t have an issue with it so long as the children are well cared for which hers are. As they get older the older children help but it must be hard in the first 10 years. We had 4 and basically none of them lifted a finger unless nagged!

Now I feel compelled to watch the programme so that I can judge the judgements.

The government actually said everyone should have at least 3 here a few years back
One for her
One for him
One for your country. Bet that wouldn’t go down too well with some these days!

Just looked it up, it was 2013, Peter Costello the then treasurer so not that long ago.