For many parents nowadays, having one to two children is enough for a complete family. Some say having over three children is a stretch, considering the amount of financial, emotional and parental investment it takes to raise a child. But certain families can grow to whopping sizes – like the biggest family in UK who recently welcomed their 21st child!
21st Baby newest member of the biggest family in UK
Presently, the Radfords are the biggest family in UK without a doubt. Recently the family had one last addition following Sue Radford’s delivery of her 21st child! On Tuesday, 6 November 2018, Ms Radford went into labour for 12 minutes, birthing little Bonnie Raye.
The 21st child’s birth means that the Radfords now have a whopping 23 family members in total!
The mum, aged 43, commented that her other children were excited to interact with little Bonnie.
“They were all fighting over the first cuddle. It’s such a lovely moment when you bring a newborn home and the others are all lined up ready to hold her,” said Sue.
The Radfords, the biggest family in UK with over 20 children, have recently welcomed their 21st baby: little Bonnie Raye. | Image Source: Instagram
“I won’t miss being pregnant,” says Sue
At first, Sue and her husband Noel Radford only wanted three children. Noel even went through a vasectomy following Sue’s delivery of their ninth child. However, after some time he wanted to become a dad again and chose to reverse the procedure.
The Radfords manage a bakery in the UK with their children’s aid.
Unbelievably, Sue has used up more than 800 weeks of her life going through multiple pregnancies.
However, the mum-of-21 said she was intent on making little Bonnie her final pregnancy. Both Sue and Noel were determined that they didn’t “want any more” since “Bonnie has completed our family”.
“It has to come to an end at some point. The maternity clothes will be going in the bin shortly. I won’t miss being pregnant at all,” says the mum.
Sue first got to know Paul at the tender age of seven. She carried her first baby, Chris (who is now nearly thirty), when she was only 14 years old.
Here’s the list of their children, from oldest to youngest: Chris, Sophie, Chloe, Jack, Daniel, Luke, Millie, Katie, James, Ellie, Aimee, Josh, Max, Tillie, Oscar, Caspar, Hallie, Phoebe, and Archie.
Both Sue and Noel also have three grandchildren from their daughter Sophie.
Just a normal day of breakfast for the biggest family in UK… | Image Source: Instagram
Tips for large families
Parents, you might be wondering how these large families actually stay sane with so many kids when you’re going crazy over one or two. Here are some tips by some parents who’ve been able to manage having over five kids:
Get organised.
Plan out all of your children’s school schedules in a large calendar so you know exactly what they need to bring to school (PE shirts, or their projects). You can even go electronic and input the data into Google Calendar – which can be synced to your phones! Don’t forget to also make space for important contact information like form teachers, school lunches and birthday party invites.
Plan your menus early and buy in bulk.
Doing so will save you extra time. By visiting many large warehouses or wholesale shops for groceries, you’ll know which ones are more affordable. The key thing is to know what to make, how much to buy, and portioning the food properly at home in storage bags.
Don’t be afraid to bring your kids outdoors
One mum finds that a lot of the emotional conflicts like screaming, yelling and arguments with her kids happen at home. So do consider bringing them out for a walk – regardless of the weather – because some fresh air and sunlight can do some wonders.
Make a chore chart
Making a chart where each child is responsible for different tasks speeds up the process of keeping the house orderly and organised. They also help to teach children what responsibility is and pushes them to fix their own goals. Furthermore, you can also connect chores with rewards if your children do well and set penalties accordingly if they don’t do them. That also makes life easier for you too, parents!
Pause, Relax, and … Laugh
Parenthood is a journey with all sorts of chaotic twists and turns. Although there are also some lovely and funny moments, too. So amid the fast pace, conflicts and trialling times, give yourselves some space to take a break and appreciate it as best as you can. A hearty laugh repeated frequently enough will surely become one of the best memories in the days to come. After all, mums, you’ve gone through a lot to carry a baby to life – you deserve a good laugh from time to time.
Reference: Today
Also Read:
The Singapore family raising 7 kids on under S$3000 a month
Tips for moms travelling with multiple kids
