‘It was really hard’ mum-of-22 Sue Radford admits as she opens up about the biggest parenting challenges she faced
BEING a mum comes with all kinds of challenges, which range from trying to get your kids to behave and supporting them with exams.
After 22 kids and counting, things aren’t any easier for Sue Radford and the TV personality has made an ‘emotional’ admission about the parenting challenges she’s faced.
Having welcomed her first child at just 13, the Morecambe mum is already starting to see her little ones leave the nest.
In fact, the TV personality received shocking news over Christmas as her son Daniel, 24, revealed that he was leaving to pursue his dream job in Australia.
With her older kids also starting families of their own, it has been an emotional time for the 48-year-old and she’s struggled to adjust to the changes around her.
“It was really hard when the first ones moved out; it was strange and very emotional,” she admitted, in a recent interview with OK.
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She also revealed that the 24-year-old will be one of the first ones to move away from the Morecambe area, with others still mostly within driving distance.
The TV personality explained: “They all still live quite close by, though, which is great. However, Daniel will be a 24 hour ‘plane journey away - it’s a full day just to get to see him!!”
Like many mums though, she just wants what is best for her kids and has even encouraged them to pursue their passions.
In an emotional moment in their Channel 5 series, the heartbroken mum even hugged her son as he broke the news to his family.
She later told the press: “You have to jump at opportunities. And as a mum you have to encourage your kids to follow their dreams.
“You can’t hold them back - you have to let them go and do what they want to do and support them whatever.”
As one of their kids prepares to fly the nest, the family are now planning to make the most of the time they have with their younger children.
Rather than just relying on their caravan though, husband Noel as ambitious plans to get his pilot’s licence and Sue hopes to travel further afield.
“I’d love to go to Bora Bora, and the Seychelles,” the mum admitted, saying: “And I’d love to go back to the Maldives because that was just incredible, and go back to Australia, too.”
Whilst some of her kids might be a little young now, the mum is keen to enjoy her time with them as much as possible.
It was even the inspiration for her and husband Noel’s new book, The Radfords: Making Life Count, which gives a glimpse in to family life with Britain’s biggest brood.
"Writing a book was something we had wanted to do for a long time. It was amazing when it arrived and we could actually hold a copy in our hands," Sue revealed.
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With the Radfords also managing their pie business and having to manage their kids with military precision, it’s little wonder that the TV personality want to make every moment count.
Though not everyone can have such a big family, you can get a sneak peak behind the scenes as The Radford’s book is out now.
