Twenty Kids & Counting

My thoughts woukd be immediately deleted so will decline to answer but you probably get my drift

I love kids and I'd have had more than the two I have if it had been possible ,but 6 miscarriages and a neonatal death put paid to that idea.I think I would have stopped at 4 though...cant imagine spending most of my married life pregnant.I did know a family of 14 and they were all happy and healthy and the family ran like clockwork.If this family are happy and not a drain on society who are we to judge ?

Oh, imagine all the odd socks, and crumbs, and school letters!!

I find it repulsive . Sorry but I’m not going to lie .

I’m not sure a family running like clockwork is necessarily the perfect model for family life

My father was the youngest of 17 a number dies in infancy but a very happy loving family - no money of course and now sadly all dead.

I wouldn't want a family so large that it had to run like clockwork!
The older children are going to be adults and have left home before the youngest are born.
You can't give attention to, or have much individual attention, for that number.
Far too expensive and shopping trips must be a nightmare.
I presume it must have been a TV programme to ask the question?
If you really want a houseful of children you could be foster parents and do some good in the world.

I found that programme very strange They certainly seem loving parents and a loving couple (but there must be lots of quarrels and troubles they don’t show) and I know he works, he has his own small bakery but can that really make the money for that big house, a good sized van to drive them all round in and a holiday for 20 in Florida ?? The logistics of how you tote so many kids children around the world seems impossible to me And why would you take them all with you to the supermarket for the weeks shopping?
The eldest daughter has three of her own yet she seemed to very Involved at helping out, have two sons escaped ? as they seemed to have 18 on holiday a few weeks after she had number 20
They were rejoicing having a rare meal together but they had a baby on their knee! I m guessing they get a lot of money from these programmes as I ve seem them on TV before and maybe the holiday was even paid for
I think she had her first one at 14
Not judging but commenting if they put themselves in the public eye of TV they will have to expect comments

The daily noise would drive me crackers

I have 2, always wanted 1 more but it didn't happen. 20? No way. Her health must suffer in some way and at least some of the children must feel emotionally neglected, how can you be able to give individual attention to each one on a daily basis?
You can't of course.

I have 5 children. I don't think we could have coped with any more. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have 5 healthy kids ( most of the time!!)

No no no no - the very thought fills me with horror.
This is wrong in so many ways, my personal opinion before I get shot down.

I haven’t seen the programmes, but have read about the Radfords and seen them interviewed. It certainly wouldn’t have been my choice, but they seem a very loving, happy, family with strong values. There are plenty of small families who wouldn’t be described as such, so I’d say good luck to them all.

I haven't seen it yet. However, my pelvic floor was never the same after just two !!!

How come she hasn't got piles hanging down to her knees!? - and varicose veins, and sagging pelvic floor, and back problems .........?

I managed 3 before all the above set in and put a stop to all that!

Interestingly it seems that one (?both) of them are adopted. But I think they have created quite enough biological relatives now thank you very much.

I did not watch it this time, but have done so before and the older children are clear they do not like the situation.

I also think that all the media coverage is egging them on.

Yes, both the parents were given up for adoption at birth.

Just the thought of all that never ending washing, ironing, shopping, cooking meals, washing after meals, bed making, on and on and on......
And how does each child get any individual attention? Or a quiet space to study or read?

bluebelle Are the on yet again? I've seen the family on previous programmes. I've also wondered how he made money enough for their life style.

Way to go.

The greatest officially recorded number of children born to one mother is 69, to the wife of Feodor Vassilyev (b. 1707–c.1782), a peasant from Shuya, Russia. In 27 confinements she gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets.

Personally I’d never remember all their names!

I suspect the program helps fund their holidays to USA, minibuses etc.

I think they are obsessed with the attention they get from having a new baby. As though they have a new toy to play with. It seems very cruel to the older ones who are forced to bring their younger siblings up.

Or maybe it makes him feel like a “real man”

I feel sorry for the older ones too gillybob. Teenage is difficult anyway but when there are 19 others, all ying for attention, it must especially hard. I seem to remember that when I last watched it, they had 16 children and the older ones were saying that they hoped there wouldn't be any more because they were worried about their mum.

Huge families are a bit of a fascination aren't they? I think Amanda Owen, the Yorkshire shepherdess has nine children now? She just straps the latest baby into a papoose and goes off to feed the sheep!

Not for me, I stopped at three