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Pregnant at 15 and a baby every year since. Now this 21-year-old on benefits says she wants more
Last updated at 23:22pm on 22.10.06
All I ever wanted: Susie Christian with husband Dax and children Rhiver, 11 months, Neo, two, Ethan, three, Neisha, four and Hope, five
When she discovered she was pregnant at 15, Susie Christian joyfully embraced the demands of young motherhood.
So much so, in fact, that she had another four children at a rate of one a year.
And now 21-year-old Mrs Christian and her husband Dax want a sixth child to add to their ever-expanding brood.
"Right from the start I knew I wanted to have Dax's children - and lots of them," she said.
"Now I have five children and we're seriously talking about at least one more.
"Dax always says that he wants at least eight. I used to think that he was joking but now I'm not so sure."
The young couple met on a school trip to Snowdonia when she was 14. Mrs Christian said it was "love at first sight".
By the time she was 15, the pair decided to try for a baby and, nine months later, she gave birth to their daughter Hope while she was still at school.
Her parents knew of her longing to have children, but they did not realise she would be giving birth to her first before she took her GCSEs.
Four months after Hope was born the couple, who live on benefits in a four-bedroom council house in Norwich, discovered Mrs Christian was pregnant again.
Their second daughter Neisha was born in March 2002, followed by two sons - Ethan, three, and Neo, two.
Then came a third boy, Rhiver, who was born with a rare lung condition. He will be celebrating his first birthday next month.
"My first pregnancy was planned as Dax and I were in love and wanted kids," Mrs Christian told the Sunday Mirror.
"It wasn't a massive decision. We just really wanted a family and as long as we were happy that is what mattered.
'If we can't afford it, we don't get it,'
"Dax did not need long to convince me to start a family - just two weeks.
"I know some people might be ready to judge us and I know what they think about young mums. But we don't want to live off benefits. We want to support ourselves."
Mr Christian, 23, currently receives a state disability allowance for chronic arthritis, which was triggered by lifting patients in an old people's home.
His wife has worked as a full-time special needs teacher but has had to take some time off during the pregnancies and to care for her husband.
"The people who matter to us, our mums and dads, have been great," she said. "They have supported us all the way.
"And Dax is a great husband. He's terrific with the children and has helped with everything."
The couple, who married on Mr Christian's 21st birthday, have to make the most of their benefits to meet the food and clothing bills.
"If we can't afford it, we don't get it," Mrs Christian said.
"I know where to find cheap fruit and vegetables and I have managed to get school uniforms for the older kids for £20. In a typical week we get through five to ten loaves of bread and dozens and dozens of litres of milk.
"Luckily the children love healthy, homemade food. They gobble up spaghetti bolognese, or real soup. And they don't get five portions of fruit and vegetables. They get about a hundred."
Mrs Christian admits many of her friends would not want to have taken on her domestic duties at such a young age, but she has no regrets.
She added: "I've five beautiful children, they are all I ever wanted and they make up for everything else a million times over.
"I've watched other girls my age go out, getting drunk, thinking that's the best thing in life. But that's never been for me.
"I'll still be young when my children are reaching their teens - I'll be like their big sister as much as a mum."
Reader views (26)
My gilrfriend has just shown me this in a magazine today, may i add it is massivley outrageous that the male dosent have a job. YOU SCUMBAG get some wotk ethic in you,pull your finger out and go and earn a crust. basic wages paying up to 12k a year and your getting double that. your a waste of taxpayers money and if you had any sense you use some form of birth control. im sure you could afford it with everyone elses money you have in your pocket. what do these children say when asked what their daddy does?..... yeah my daddy sits at home all day and claims benefits.
People like you make me sick!!!!
- Lloyd Hulme, wilmslow cheshire
Though I agree children are a blessing, this couple should be thinking about the state of our country before giving birth to all these kids. as said before, they say they dont want to live off benefits, yet they are not doing anything about it. They prefer to pop kids out and claim money of which so many other people are actually deserving off (ie senior citizens) than to work and build up a family slowly. They are not teaching their children the real ways of the world. I am 18 and even I know that. my father worked his a**e of as a labourer to build our family as did my mum and I know the importance of earning your keep. This is just another example of Englands screwed up youngsters which embarrasses myself and my friends.
- Lyd, London England
This is rather sickening.
- Amanda, NY, NY
I guess Mr. Christian isn't too arthritic to father lots of children.
For the planet's sake and for the sake of the responsible tax payers who only have as many children as they can afford - I hope this couple will discover a little thing called "birth control".
- Anne, Fairhaven, Ma
Kids having kids makes my head spin! I'm a teacher in LA, and I see it all the time. Why don't these kids do themselves a favor and get a little life experience first?!
- Kevin, Los Angeles, California, USA
"If we can't afford it, we don't get it," Mrs Christian said.
How responsible of her to be so prudent with taxpayers' money!
- John Hassel, Duarte, CA, U.S.A
Absolutely irresponsible and reprehensible.
- Jon, Denver, USA
"If we can't afford it, we don't get it"
Call me crazy, but shouldn't babies fall under that little rule? I'd LOVE to have a child but I can't afford one yet!
- Amanda, Ohio, United States
I don't know whether to feel sad for England that pays poor people to make babies or to feel glad that the USA isn't the only moronic country to do so.
- Neal, Kentucky, USA
If we are paying for these citizens of the future, should we not a say in naming them?
- David, Smithfields
I too have suffered from "chronic arthritis" and considerable pain in feet, knees and hips for some 20 years. Unlike Dax, I do not make a meal of this or expect to be supported by benefits and am now working harder now than ever to save enough money for my retirement. This country should stop dishing out benefits like sweeties and realise that it is now the laughing stock of the world.
- Wendy, London, England
23 years old and disabled from arthritis?! This guy is a hero for arthritis sufferers everywhere! The international arthritis organization (association, club, or whatever) should make this guy their spokesperson. He can go around the world and bring a message of hope to all people who think that getting arthritis makes love life unpleasant to the point of impossible. In fact he can write a book about his struggle with arthritis the title may be something along the lines of "Here I Come!" ...it can be a part of the Oprah's book club. Wow! This makes me feel a lot better about the American welfare system. Thanks UK!
- Michael Khalamayzer, New York, USA
I'm tired of working and there are other things I want to do but I still have two years to go before I can retire. How inspiring, knowing I am paying taxes to keep these two scroungers at home while Gordon Brown raids the pensions funds to pay them.
- Jessup, Derby
According to the names I would say that they are big scifi movie fans. Look for Cypher, Tank and Mouse to pop out next!
- Ben, Mount Laurel, NJ, USA
Pathetic!
- G Rolpo, Ilford, London
Absolutely ridiculous.
My wife and I decided that we will adopt abandoned/orphaned/needy children rather than have children of our own. This was a long and personal decision; but this article sums up our reasoning quite succinctly.
There are already too many children in the world as it is — thousands of whom have no families or parents; the world and its resources don't need more thoughtless draw and strain.
- Hodges, Lexington, Ky USA
A fine example for the argument that procreation should be regulated. In the meantime, I am sure that British taxpayers will be suitably appreciative of the privilege of sustaining 'Neo', 'Dax', 'Rhiver' and 'Neisha'. Dear lord.
- Bob, Sydney, Australia
23 years old and "arthritis" means a disability? I wish I lived in the UK where the social welfare system is so stupid.
- Dave, Vienna, Austria
Good job we're not all popping out babies like there's no tomorrow, this world's already seriously overcrowded. All I can say is, what planet are this couple on? Do they really think it is appropriate to be breeding like rats in this day and age? And if their sole ambition is to look after kids, there are plenty in homes that could use a little tlc...
- Lucy, London, England
Um, Gareth, you may want to check your reading comprehension skills before passing judgement on others. Despite the mother's age of 21 being in the actual headline, you have managed to confuse her with her 23 year old husband. He is the one with arthritis. Florida schools must be a joke!
- James Mccoy, London, England
Yes, this is just what the world needs... more people.
- Garett, BC Canada
Pop out kids you can't afford and blissfully make other people pay for them.
- Sue, USA
Well that makes a pleasant change. At least she knows who the father is !
- Sej, Reading, UK
I think that's great for them! Most people get married and can't stay together for a few weeks. Here there are barely legal to drink and already raising 5 kids. Good for them! I
- Megan, Japan
Britain makes it too easy, This family is just another exmaple of life long scammers! Chronic arthritis at 23? Like when has she had a chance to work and for how long? She seems to be fine kneeling down for that photo? Benefits should only be paid out for two children per family, that might stop people making a "career" out of having babies. House, money, what next, a car? Britain is a joke!
- Gareth Crowley, Florida, USA
Lovely, 5 kids and living off the government. Now they want another, while claiming not to want to live off benefits? instead of popping another one out, why don't they focus on educating themselves and getting jobs so their kids don't have to live on welfare their entire childhood.
- Sher, USA
