The baker's dozen (... plus one!)
Baby makes 14 for bread shop owners in love with parenthood
By Beth Hale
Last updated at 1:42 AM on 20th May 2010 The Daily Mail
Working in her husband's bakery, Sue
Radford has grown well accustomed to having a bun in the oven.
So much so that she has just
delivered her 14th child at the age of 35.
She and husband Noel, 39, are the
proud parents of seven sons and seven daughters - totalling one
more than the traditional baker's dozen.
And they enjoy having a large family
so much that they have not ruled out yet more additions to the brood.
Buns in the oven: Sue and Noel Radford pictured with
their 14 children Back left to right: Chloe 14, Max 18 months, Jack 13, Daniel
11, Christopher 21, Josh 2, Sophie 16, Katie 7. Front left to right: Millie 8,
Luke 9, Sue with Tilly May, husband Noel, Aimee 4, Ellie 5, James 6 (behind
Ellie)
'We think
we've stopped, but never say never,' said Mrs Radford at their nine-bedroom
home in Morecambe, Lancashire.
The couple began their family
unexpectedly early when they were teenagers
and she was still at school. For other
couples this might have spelled disaster, but not for the Radfords, whose
eldest son Christopher has just had his 21st birthday.
Sue finished school and they married
when she was 18, planning to have 'perhaps another one or two' children.
Once Sophie,
16, and Chloe, 14, had arrived, however, the couple discovered they were
enjoying parenthood so much that they just kept going.
It was after the arrival of Jack,
13, and while Mrs Radford was pregnant with Daniel, 11, that the couple found
their current house - a nine-bedroom Victorian former old people's
home that was in need of work.
'Somebody did joke, "You've got
all those bedrooms, you'll have to fill them up",' said Mrs Radford.
And sure enough it wasn't long
before with each new room they decorated, there were children to share it.
In quick succession they had Luke,
nine, Millie, eight, Katie, seven, James, six, Ellie, five and Aimee, four.
Then, after a brief gap, came Josh, two, Max, 18 months, and, two weeks ago,
Tilly May.
Mr Radford works hard running the
bakery, which is just a short drive from home. His wife is currently on
maternity leave, but fully intends to return to work at the bakery as she has
after each pregnancy.
With so many people under one roof,
she has to run a tight ship. But she is helped by her children.
'If there is a job I can't do I just
have to say to one of them, "Can you empty the dishwasher?" and they
do it.'
Pocket money is a helpful
incentive - it ranges from £2.50 to £10 a week and varies depending
on chores completed.
'We do have a routine and we try to
stick to it,' said Mrs Radford.
'I don't think I would cope
otherwise.'
The only outside help the couple
rely on is a nanny who looks after the youngest children when Mrs Radford works
from 9am to 2pm at the bakery.
'We have always wanted to support
ourselves,' she said. 'I like being kept busy, I wouldn't like not to
work - neither of us would even though it can be quite difficult
juggling work and home.'
There is never much money left over
each month, but the children do not go short at Christmas and birthdays.
'We don't have a limit on presents,
but we don't go mad,' said Mrs Radford, who keeps her eyes peeled for bargains
and spends about £250 to £300 a week on groceries.
The family's Land Rover Discovery
seats only seven, but they all go out for walks together and this summer they
are hiring a minibus for a trip to France. The couple do try to have the
occasional outing alone, but find it a bit strange without the rest of the
crowd.
'We'll never be lonely and the kids
have always got someone around,' said Mrs Radford.
'At night time when the babies have
gone to bed we all sit in the living room together. We make a point of having
our tea together - we all eat at one big table.
'There is never a dull moment in the
house and everyone gets on.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1279654/Supermum-FOURTEEN-children-admits-shell-say-having-babies.html#ixzz0oS04aHSi