I have come across many mothers who have large families, I love large families and the sheer idea of having hundreds of little feet running around me fills me with a warm glow. My dad is one of 14 and my mum 1 of 6. I myself have 6 children and would have one a year if I could.
The sad reality is there are many downsides to having a large family. Now you may not agree with me or even like what I am about to say but at least I admit my faults and speak the truth when it comes to being a mother to a large brood.
Joanna Watson Single Mother Of 14 Is She Selfish?
Joanna Watson – Single Mother Of 14 from Guernsey.
Joanne is a single mother to 14 kids aged from 3-22. She admits she lives on benefits. Living in a 4 bedroomed house this mother is more than stretched to her limits.
This mother has 4 bedrooms to squeeze in 12 people? 11 of Joanne’s children live with her.
I think it shows clearly how severe the financial burdens are when you have a large family as John, the father of these children was sent to prison after calming benefits fraudulently. Sadly his time in prison was not the worst part of his crime, for his children were now splashed all over the newspapers, these scroungers with loads of kids were also frauding our system and the poor children were bullied at school for it.
Joanne recalls walking into town and a lady saying “Oh look it’s the baby making machine”. I have also received a few comments like this, made in a joking way but still they anger you. Joanne says that’s the way she is? I find this strange. Is popping out kids the only thing she is capable of?
I do wonder if having baby after baby is an easy way out? I mean if you have that many kids nobody can expect you to have to work, as it’s almost impossible. OK I hear you shouting at me but her husband worked. But how many hours did he have to work and are you going to tell me that he earned enough for 2 adults and 14 kids to live comfortably?
What I find sad is that her children despise of what their mother does, her profession of a baby making machine is not something they are proud of. Has this mother put herself first and her kids wishes last? It seems so.
‘Our family is huge, laments one of the littlest boys. There’s a new one born nearly every year. Being in a big family is horrible. If she has any more, that’s it, this house won’t fit us.’
I would feel ashamed and guilty if any of my own children said this to me and I certainly would not be having anymore. I do feel Joanna Watson is selfish and its about time she sat down and looked into the mirror.
Why is having so many children so important to her?
What is she missing in her life that having a child every year fills for her? The point is this void will never be filled, no matter how many children she has.
Joanne has 56 loads of washing each month to do, I bet she does not stand and iron it all. One of the many things that come with having a large family is there is always a mountain of washing to do.
Joanne pays £27 towards her rent each week.
£160 a week in family allowance for the 11 children still living at home and £405 a week in supplementary benefits. This makes a grand total of £565.00 each week for 11 kids and an adult to survive from. Sounds a lot right?
Don’t talk crap; £565 is not going to go that far on 11 kids. If each child needed a new pair of shoes for example this would cost Joanne let’s say £15 each pair for the sake of arguing as I guess she does not shop at Clarks where they are £35 per pair. The total for 11 pair of shoes would be;
Cheap Shoes at £15 x 11 = £165
Clarks Shoes at £35 x 11 = £385
I am already stressing about getting the 4 kids back to school uniform and accessories, I do feel for Joanne, who has many more than me to prepare for.
I do draw the line at the insult Joanne received when she joined a dating site, looking for a new man to be told that she was not welcome as she was not the type of person men would look for. Why because she had a large family?
Joanne may have underlying issues but nowhere has this women proved she is an unfit mother, or is a bad person. I am guessing she is lonely and looking for love and feels that by having this many children she will find what she is looking for, I have felt that way too.
I was upset to read Joanne lost her 15th baby to miscarriage after a 3 week fling with an old neighbour, also I wonder if this mother has any morals when it comes to sleeping with men for more children? OK so perhaps she had a whirlwind 3 week fling and he swept her off her feet and the sex was that impulsive that contraception went out the window? Hold on a moment, rewind, she has 14 kids; this mother knows by now how babies are made.
While miscarriage is devastating Joanne needs to be thinking about her life and how she can make it a better place for the 14 kids she already has, rather than having more.
The guy sold his story to the papers claiming Joanne begged him for a baby – “How I escaped the baby machine”.
Joanne’s 16-year-old daughter Mariah recently had her first child – making Joanne four times a grandmother.
I have to say with 14 kids I have no idea how this mother can provide the dedicated attention that each individual child needs and deserve s. I am guessing that the older children help her out with the younger children.
Looking at the pictures by the newspaper and looking at Joanne, I don’t see any sparkle in her eyes. She is not oozing with confidence and if anything appears sad and lost. Perhaps it’s just a bad picture?
Is our country too over populated? Oh get real; having a large family is not a crime.
Read Joannes Full Article
What are your thoughts on this large family?
About The Real Supermum
I think it’s unfair that they focused on her being a single parent because she wasn’t when she planned for a large family.
She obviously does cope with them very well but the show never gave us any insights into the how.
I admire her, I know how difficult it can be in a happy marriage with 6 and I would not like to be in her shoes. But having 14 kids will and does bring with it a whole different world.
I agree that it’s quite unfair to focus on the ‘single parent’ aspect if her partner is in jail. However, I do feel sorry for her children. They must get little to no one-to-one time with their mummy, which could lead to them feeling really insignificant.
While I would love a massive family, I think it comes to a point where you have to stop – her children are miserable and bullied and, like you said, the money wouldn’t stretch that far! You have to put your children first which she is not doing in my opinion.
But then, of course you said having and wanting a large family is not a crime, which is 100% right so it is a confusing one to answer!
Hey Laura it sure is, I would love more children but I know right now is not the time to be thinking of adding more. I would feel ashamed if my kids ever said they hated being part of our large family.
This size of family was the norm before the pill and planned families when large families helped to raise the younger kids and the older went out to work and put the money in the house hold pot. That was before the 1960′s this is the year 2012. Im sorry but this is not fair on the children she has or on thee government system that is providing her and her children a living ***sorry***
i don’t see how she can give each child one to one attention, personally i wouldn’t like to have a family that big, i’m quite happy with just the one xx
Having a large family is not something that attracts me and I don’t understand the need for it so I can’t really pass judgement x
I think its unfair to paint her in the ‘single parent’ way, im sure she didnt enter into a relationship with the father of her children to be left as a single parent. Logically speaking she would never be able to get a job that paid enough to pay for her children, so can see how it would become a bit of a cycle now… no where in the papers have they said shes a bad mum. I personally think she is being looked upon with the whole ‘shes on benefits’ eyes, the fact she has 14 kids i assume makes it worse for those that work etc but equally i agree shes obviously searching for something which if she hasnt found 14 children later she wont find it at all x
I think she needs help to be honest.
Like you said, what void is she trying to fill with the children/pregnancies….
In my opinion, benefit fraud is obviously wrong but being on benefits to look after your family isn’t x
I think she is selfish yes, she is not thinking about how her large family is effecting her children if they were aree happy than fair play to her. i would love a huge family but i think as a mother she need to work on the children she has and make them happy before she thinks of any more x
I don’t think having a large family is a crime or a burden on society! My mother in law was one of 14 and they were all happy and didn’t live off benefits! I would love a large family but with the cost of living now its just not possible x
wow. honestly i take my hat off to mothers of large familys, i have two and they are more than enough for me, the age difference between them means they are interested in different things which is hard keeping both entertained and do everything in the house. i dont know her but at 14 kids id want to enjoy what ive got
I think if u want a certain amount if kids you should have to prove that u can provide for them and should be made to work once there all in full time school! Focus on the singe parent is bad tho who cares if she is or not does it make her a better or worse mum? No she’s thes best she can be x
14 children is far too may full stop. Even if her and her partner were able to financially provide for all 14, there is no way on this earth that each of the 14 children are receiving the time, love, care, and attention that every child deserves. As a mother of 2 children with a small age difference I do not respect this woman at all.
She must be really bloody fertile!
I must admit I feel a bit sorry for those kids probs hardly any one on one with mommy, some people do just have kids thinking they’ll get loads in benefits ect ect.. But obviously from the figures shown it doesn’t happen that way.. Maybe she just enjoys being pregnant and them being babies? I know a few people that do & as soon as they become toddlers they get themselves pregnant again.. I personally wouldn’t I hated being pregnant (due to medical probs) but some people do maybe that’s her case.. But still I think maybe its about time. She stopped making babies and concerntrated on the ones she’s got & on her grand kids
14 children is just ridiculous! Not because she’s single or anything, its just too many. Dont get me wrong im brought up in a large family. My mum is one of 9, my dad one of 8 and my grandad is one of 15! I think its harsh that there’s 11 people in a 4bed. Thats practically 3 per bedroom. If the place is council (which im guessing it is) the rooms wont be huge. Then there’s the money point of view. Even if she wasnt single i highly doubt that an oh could earn the money for the all to live comfortably. Selfish isnt the word i’d use though i dont think x
totally admire this woman if she wants 14 kids let her have 14 kids it is her choice no one elses i do however think the only down side to it is how on earth does she have enough time tospend quality time with each child so therefore the child will be missing out but if she can cope and look after them all i take my hat off to her (if i wore one lol) xx
takes guts i must say well done to you x
Wow! How on earth does she manage. Have to say that she obviously manages to look after them and i think branding her these names are harsh from the media etc. I would love a family of 4 but 14 is a few too many! But i say enough and time to stop. All the one to one the children have lost out on and all of 12 of them crammed into a 4 bed house cant be nice for them all. She needs to stop thinking about herself and having more babies and focus on her children and her grandchildren. xx