Raising kids is hard, especially if you have multiple close in age. But when you reach 22 children, would you consider more?
According to Sue Radford, it may still be in the cards.
As the largest family in Britain, the Radfords have been known to the public for years, with eager fans watching their every move.
I mean, how on Earth do they manage so well?
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But thoughts of the youngest flying the nest has brought on new feelings about parenthood for Sue, who would like to continue to expand her family in a different way that what we’re used to seeing from her.
As Sue has spent nearly 17 years of her life pregnant, you might expect her to want to get pregnant again if more children are what she wants.
However, Sue has other plans and it’s truly heart-warming.
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Speaking to OK! Magazine, the mum-of-22 said: “We adore being surrounded by kids, so I’d love to adopt or foster. We’re not having any more of our own so it’s definitely something we’d think about when ours are older.
“When they started to move out, it was hard as a mum and strange not to have them all together.
“I dread the thought of an empty nest but I know it will happen one day. You can’t hold your kids back – when you love them, you have to let them live their dreams.”
She and husband Noel have been together for 35 years, marrying in 1992 when Sue was 17 after giving birth to their first child Chris, now 34.
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From then on, the couple began their journey to becoming the largest family in the UK.
After Chris, the couple went on to have Sophie, 29, Chloe, 28, Jack, 26, Daniel, 24, Luke, 22, Millie, 22, Katie, 20, James, 19, Ellie, 18, Aimee, 17, Josh, 16, Max, 14, Tillie, 13, Oscar, 11, Casper, 10, Hallie, eight, Phoebe, seven, Archie, six, Bonnie, four, and Heidie, three.
In 2014, the pair tragically lost a little boy, Alfie, who was stillborn.
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Sue explained: “We’re proud to be Britain’s biggest family but we’d only planned on having about three.
“We’re addicted to children – but as addictions go, it’s not a bad one because it’s motivated by love. We have plenty to go round.”
However, it hasn’t been smooth sailing being in the limelight, as many people have attacked the family, claiming that they use taxpayer money for their holidays or speculate their income.
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Sue said of the negativity: “People just jump to conclusions. We don’t claim benefits – the pie company is very successful and so is our media business. We work hard but we’re not millionaires!
"The nastiness is upsetting though. We just want to be able to give our children the best possible life.
“My mindset changed when my dad passed away. I thought, if we want to be able to go on holiday and make memories with our children, then why should we be judged
"You should live life how you want and not how other people want you to live it. If you’re happy and the kids are happy, then what does it matter what anybody else thinks?”
Too right, Sue!
Topics: Sue Radford, Radford Family, News, Parenting
Britt Jones