I think Channel 4 still grabbed hold of the stereotypes in order to get viewing figures: With an advertisement for \u201cRich and on benefits\u201d in the commercial break leading up to the documentary, and a voice over saying, \u201cWho rules the roost when you have 16kidsandcounting\u201d<\/p>\n Kris Marshall narrates \u201cTonight two families try to keep control of their ranks. The Sullivans run<\/em> their brood<\/em> according to a strict routine. Whilst the Salims<\/a> try a different approach: \u2018It\u2019s the kids that are the master of the house<\/i>.\u2019 But despite the challenges, these big families just can\u2019t stop<\/em> adding to their numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n Totally outnumbered.<\/b><\/p>\n Kent, one family has an army<\/em> of kids to keep in order. The Sullivans, 7 boys and 5 girls:\u00a0Ben, 20, Stephanie, 18, Caitlin, 13, Harry, 10, Eddie, eight, Sidney, seven, Paddy, five, Oliver, three, Joseph, two, twins Anna and Libby, 16 months and last but not least Isobel who is just three months;\u00a0And parents Mike, 39, and Tania, 37, have no slacking, their home is their castle and they run the house like a fine tuned engine.<\/p>\n Home Education<\/span><\/p>\n They receive only child benefit as Mike works as a Carpenter<\/a> from his shed, Tania runs her online Larger Family Life<\/a>\u00a0website from the living room, and the children are home educated in the kitchen. It\u2019s no wonder that Tania has received so many enquiries about home educating<\/a> since the show, as she makes it look so easy home educating her four children aged 5-13, running a nursery for her 5 preschool kids, and carrying her 12th<\/sup> baby \u2013 all whilst looking fab!<\/p>\n I think Channel 4 still tried to show an element of making them seem a little isolated<\/strong> by showing the party for \u201cjust the family \u2013 there\u2019s enough of us\u201d and saying that \u201cThe Sullivans tend to base their education indoors\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n I feel this narration is inaccurate \u2013 especially as the Sullivans are planning to take their children on a 3 month road trip around Europe<\/a>!<\/p>\n Tania says, \u201cThere\u2019s a difference between mixing with the outside world and being sucked in by it\u201d and explains that Home education means that the children can work to their own abilities (and even siblings abilities vary), they are not stuck in traffic, don\u2019t have to go out in the rain, and do not have to worry about uniforms, PE kits and trainers.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cSociety is uncomfortable if you are not doing what is expected of you, so you chose to home educate rather than to send to school. You don\u2019t wear certain clothes and you don\u2019t watch certain programmes, and don\u2019t follow certain bands. What we are saying to the kids is that you are free to choice what you can do, without that pressure of what other people think you should be doing.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Tania\u2019s older children are also taught outside of mainstream education, partly over the internet. Caitlin (13) is an academic year ahead of her age, and already planning her career. She is doing a short 12 week childcare course. She\u2019d like to work in a nursery, and it would be good work experience because they have a couple of nurseries around. The interviewer says, \u201cI thought you meant being at home would be good work experience.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n All <\/b>Caitlin\u2019s workmates are \u2018virtual\u2019 and that she wouldn\u2019t be able to meet up with them. Caitlin says she wouldn\u2019t be missing that much.<\/p>\n Behaviour<\/span><\/p>\n Caitlin does get to mix with other girls at Girls Brigade.<\/i><\/p>\n Home Education does not mean that the children are socially isolated \u2013 as seen by the children attending Boys and Girls Brigade.<\/p>\n \u201cSeveral evenings a week the children get the chance to meet up with kids outside of the family and let off steam\u201d Socialising is important. They are supervised so we know they are safe.<\/i><\/p>\n They are members of the boys and girls Brigade which helps,\u00a0<\/i>instill\u00a0values it is important because it teaches them about having pride in their appearance, and about treating people well and building good character. Like them to be smart, and give them a bit of self pride.<\/i><\/p>\n A lady at boys brigade says that the children are not at all attention seeking, that they are good kids.<\/p>\n Tania\u2019s children are an absolute credit to her. Even at the party, where it is just family, Tania expects good behaviour. She says it is important to have boundaries and to be consistent: When a parent says something \u2013 that\u2019s it. She tells us, \u201dI\u2019m not their buddy, or chums, I\u2019m their mum.<\/i>\u201d They are kept in-line with routine. \u201cWithout routine there would be meltdown after meltdown.\u201d The Sullivans have rules and the naughty step is utilised.<\/p>\n The lady at the scan place says that Tania is in control completely, she only has to look and they know.<\/p>\n \u201cWe prefer to do something differently to the rest of society are doing. But we are happy with that. And so if our children grow up and are comfortable with what they want to do and how they want to be, then that will serve them well. To be strong enough to say, no I\u2019m not going with the flow, I\u2019m happy as I am thank you.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n Pregnancy risk myth<\/span><\/p>\n Kris Marshall narration has sprinkling of language which I felt made it seem that Tania was at risk with having the baby \u201cthe risks of child birth all too well;\u201d \u201can anxious countdown,\u201d \u201cnot every pregnancy has run smoothly.\u201d With mention of how the more sections means the more scar tissue (this is the 5th<\/sup>), but for Tania \u201cthe rewards of child birth out-weigh the risks.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s going to be risks with any pregnancy. Miscarriage is a difficult thing to go through, and after 8 miscarriages it to be expected that any woman would be a little anxious. I think you could see how hard this has been for Tania.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel blessed to be able to carry them and to have a baby. If I can then I\u2019m happy to have more.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n They had 7 boys and 4 girls, so baby number 12 was a surprise. They prefer that. The children want to call the baby Zelda. But when she is born she is called Isobel. This \u201cbirth day,\u201d a very moving video of the birth that the Sullivans are kind enough to share with us, is shown alongside the 18th<\/sup> birthday celebrations of one of the Salim children, who has been working hard on her future and deserves some fun.<\/p>\n Planning for the future<\/span><\/p>\n Mike says that they\u2019re not stupid and that they\u2019re not doing this (having children) for some sort of record. Kris Marshall explains how they own a 5 bedroom house but says that the new baby is \u201cdisplacing the twins from the parents\u2019 bedroom\u201d \u2013 like it\u2019s only lack of space, rather than the fact that at their age (15 months) most children have, generally, moved out of their parents bedrooms.<\/p>\n One of the children says, \u201cyou don\u2019t plan a baby around room.\u201d Again, generally, if you waited until you had everything \u2018just so\u2019 before having a baby you might never have one.<\/p>\n They have a three year plan, where they dream of moving somewhere rural, with land and being self-sufficient. They have been working towards this dream for years. I think that this was well contrasted with the Salims<\/a> who also had dreams and things went wrong when Mohammed lost his job.<\/p>\n For Questions you may have about this family please look here<\/a><\/p>\n Photos copyright of Larger Family Life<\/a> not to be taken without their permission<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"taniasullivanandkids\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/taniasullivanandkids1.jpg\")
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