In Sue and Noel Radford’s book, The Radfords: Making Life Count, which is a number one best-seller on Amazon, the couple discussed the ‘worry’ they felt when raising their first child, when Sue was 13 and Noel was 17.
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But not only this, in the book, which took the second spot on the Sunday Times bestseller list, we saw the parents reveal the ‘secrets’ to raising children well.
Noel explained that the couple were ‘typical helicopter parents’ with their first child, as he claimed: “When we had Chris, I think we were your typical helicopter parents who just worried about everything.
“But as you go on and have more kids, then you realise what you do need to worry about and what you don’t need to worry about.”
The mum-of-22 then explained: “And even if you have a very big family, you just know instinctively when a certain child needs your particular attention, and you take the time out – and spend it with the one who, at that point in their lives, needs your time.
Read more on the Radfords
“You can always tell when there is something going on with one of your children – they can never hide anything; you just know.”
When it comes to their secrets to being good parents, Sue revealed: “We’re also asked about the secret to being a good mum and dad.
“You do need to have a lot of patience, don’t you?”
To this, Noel chimed in: “And try not to get too stressed.”
Sue then agreed: “Yes, definitely, because I think if you are stressed then that will rub off on the kids.”
Sue shared that having so many children keeps her feeling youthful, as she wrote: “I definitely think having all these kids has kept us feeling young.
“They are all so different. I always say there are so many different characters in the house.”
Not only this, but Sue was keen to clap back to the haters, who initially doubted the couple when Sue fell pregnant during her teens.
Who’s who in the Radford family?
SUE and Noel have 22 children . . .
- Chris – May 7, 1989
- Sophie Rose – December 13, 1993
- Chloe Anne – July 31, 1995
- Jack Richard – April 9, 1997
- Daniel Leon – March 3, 1999
- Luke James – October 1, 2000
- Millie Jo – August 29, 2001
- Katie Louise – November 14, 2002
- James Edward – October 17, 2003
- Ellie May – May 6, 2005
- Aimee Elizabeth – April 21, 2006
- Josh Benjamin – July 3, 2007
- Max Joseph – December 11, 2008
- Tillie May – May 2, 2010
- Oscar Will – October 22, 2011
- Casper Theo – October 3, 2012
- Alfie Thomas – July 6, 2014
- Hallie Alphia Beau – June 3, 2015
- Phoebe Willow – July 24, 2016
- Archie Rowan – September 18, 2017
- Bonnie Ray – November 6, 2018
- Heidie Rose – April 3, 2020
She concluded: “When I look at our family today, I occasionally think about the doubters – and the people who were nasty or turned their backs on me when I was expecting Chris.
“My message to them would be, ‘Look at us now, and what we have got.
Me and Sue are so proud of our family, and so grateful
Noel Radford
“We are still together, more than 35 years on, with 22 kids, 10 grandchildren and two successful businesses.’
“We didn’t doubt ourselves at the start and we’ve always had the mindset that if you want something badly enough you can get it.”
Following this, Noel chimed in: “Yes, we have had some bad times, but we have also been so incredibly fortunate.
Sue and Noel Radford’s grandchildren
Daisy Mae: Born to Sophie, August 27, 2012
Ayprill Louise: Born to Sophie, October 13, 2014
Leo Thomas: Born to Sophie, December 24, 2015
Maisie Paige: Born to Chris, June 3, 2017
Jacob Colin: Born to Chris, July 31, 2019
Ophelia Jo: Born to Millie, September 10, 2020
Oaklyn Nicholas: Born to Chris, September 21, 2021
Chester Bleu: Born to Millie, February 20, 2022
Mila Eloise: Born to Chloe, July 23, 2022
Elodie Jade: Born to Millie, September 19, 2023
“Me and Sue are so proud of our family, and so grateful.
“I’ve no regrets – and there is still so much to look forward to.”
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