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How Octomom Nadya Suleman & Her 14 Kids Are Taking Their Lives Back
As one might imagine, parenting 14 kids under the age of seven is, in a word, challenging.
"That's euphemistically speaking," Octomom Natalie "Nadya" Suleman quipped in an exclusive interview with E! News, noting her choice of words was maybe a slight understatement.
"It was challenging, stressful beyond words," acknowledged Suleman, who became better known as "Octomom" after she welcomed the world's first set of surviving octuplets in January 2009. "But just to cope mentally, I had to very effectively channel my stress."
Among mommy's little helpers: An unwavering faith ("I have a very strong relationship with God"), a commitment to working out and maintaining a vegan lifestyle and the team of nannies she employed until Noah, Maliyah, Isaiah, Nariyah, Makai, Josiah, Jeremiah and Jonah turned 2. "And then," said Suleman, "no help after that."
While her six eldest kids—Elijah, now 23, Amerah, 22, Joshua, 21, and Aidan, 19, and 18-year-old twins Caleb and Calyssa—no doubt would have been willing to lend a hand, stressed Suleman, "I never ever allowed my older ones to become parentified."
She was already concerned about her kids' ability to be kids given the hysteria that surrounded their family after the world learned of Suleman and the fertility doctor who recklessly implanted her with 12 embroyos.
"I went back to have one more," Suleman explained of how things drifted so dramatically off-course. Convinced her body had "expelled" the initial six embryos, Dr. Michael Kamrava "asked me if he could transfer in the other six that were in the petri dish," she detailed. Though not fully lucid, the 49-year-old agreed to sign his handwritten contract, "And the rest is history."
Instagram / Natalie Suleman
A fairly dark one, given the amount of hate, criticism and even death threats that were directed the former therapist's way.
As the child development grad kept her head down and committed to doing whatever it took to care for her outsized brood, "My parenting was driven by guilt," Suleman acknowledged, "because I blame myself for allowing our lives to be hijacked by the tabloid media and any sense of normalcy to be ripped out from under my kid's feet."
She did her best to keep things steady, but, "They have experienced trauma from what I experienced," said Suleman. "Being that target of global scorn and condemnation, it doesn't just impact the parent. It trickled down to my kids."
Which is why her children were just as eager as her to reclaim their narrative.
"One of the biggest misconceptions is that I wanted it," Suleman shared. "I wanted fame. None of that's true."
It's something the California native tried to explain at the time, "to no avail," she said. But she was ready to try once more with Lifetime's six-part docuseries Confessions of Octomom (Mondays, 10 p.m.).
Knowing how much her children—particularly her eldest boys—loathed the attention, "It's really, really impressive to me that they mustered up that internal fortitude to speak publicly for the first time," said Suleman. "I know they didn't want to, but they did want to, at the same time, share the truth and to be open and honest about who I really am as a mom and who their family really is."
Courtesy of Lifetime
Because to her kids, Suleman is simply mom—the woman who helped them learn to walk, oversaw homework and did whatever it took to make their childhood growing up in Orange, Calif. as comfortable as possible.
"We're actually, really, really close as a family," Suleman explained, noting that bond comes from a willingness to speak about anything and everything. The way she sees it, "Open, honest communication is the antidote to any kind of pain and dysfunction to the family system."
These days, that family life is filled with more highs than lows, including the August arrival of Suleman's first grandchild.
And so after a decade and a half maintaining the lowest possible profile, Suleman is ready for the world to know her version of events.
Her story is one of "strength and survival and success, despite all the odds," Suleman detailed. "So if I could come out the other side stronger and even more resilient and still thriving, then I think women out there who feel they can't overcome adversity, maybe somehow my story will inspire them to press on."
And it all began with a trip to see her doctor. Keep reading to see her sweet family photos.
Instagram / Natalie Suleman
Making Memories
Natalie "Nadya" Suleman celebrated her first grandchild turning six months old with some sweet photos.
"I can’t believe our little angel is already 6 months old!" she wrote on Instagram in March 2025 alongside pictures of the little one, who is the daughter of her son Joshua. "You have been one of the greatest blessings in all of our lives. Your beautiful, sweet smile fills my heart immeasurably. I love you more than words could express. We are all so grateful to watch you grow and thrive every single day!"
Borrowing the words from the children's book Love You Forever, Natalie added, "I’ll love you forever. I’ll like you for always As long as
I’m living My grand-baby you’ll be."
Instagram / Natalie Suleman
Happy Thanksgiving
Natalie thanked her children Noah, Nariyah, Jonah, and Isaiah for their "hard work and dedication in the kitchen" for Thanksgiving 2024.
"Your healthy plant based, whole food, nutrient dense creations are compassionate and delicious!" she wrote on Instagram at the time. "We are all grateful and blessed."
Instagram / Natalie Suleman
Halloween Fun
The mom of 14 marked Halloween 2024 by sharing a throwback photo of her and some of her kids dressed up in their costumes in 2015.
Instagram / Natalie Suleman
Becoming a Grandma
In September 2024, Natalie announced that she'd become a grandma.
"Thank you God for blessing my son Joshua and lovely daughter in law with this beautiful gift!" she wrote on Instagram. "We are so grateful she is a new addition to our family! Baby girl you are so very loved and we can’t wait to watch you grow!! 8/30/24."
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Surrounded by Love
While her kids smiled for the camera, Mom snuck in a wish on her 49th birthday in July 2024.
"Thank you kids for making my birthday yesterday so special!" she wrote on Instagram. "I love you all."
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Compliments to the Chefs
Jonah, Nariyah, Noah and Jeremiah were in charge of the family's vegan feast on Native American Heritage Day in 2023.
"Happy belated Thanksgiving and Happy Native American Heritage Day!" Natalie wrote on Instagram in November 2023. "Thank you to the head chefs Jonah, Nariyah, Noah, and Jeremiah, who worked relentlessly cooking delicious meals for the family. You are loved and appreciated, and deserved those two overflowing plates of your creations! Hope all our kind supporters had a safe and blessed special time with loved ones!"
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Girls Night Out
Mom took Amerah and Calyssa out for ramen (vegan, of course) in August 2023.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Birthday Bliss
In lieu of 48 candles, the kids brought balloons for their mom's birthday in July 2023.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Young Queen
Natalie's eldest daughter Amerah celebrated her 21st birthday in July 2023.
Instagram / Natalie Suleman
Dynamic Duo
The two enjoyed a mother daughter movie night in July 2023.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
We've Got Each Other
Natalie marked twins Caleb and Calyssa's sweet 16 with this adorable throwback pic.
"Happy sweet 16th birthday to my, (couldn’t be more polar opposite), twins Caleb and Calyssa!" she wrote on Instagram in October 2022. "Calyssa, you have grown into a kind, loving, compassionate (towards all living things), intelligent, beautiful young lady. Words cannot describe how proud I am to call you my daughter. You are a talented writer and artist, and will achieve any goal you set for yourself, as long as you never give up. I admire your mental strength, determination, and perseverance, and am blessed to be your mom. Caleb, you have grown into a loving, caring, highly intelligent, comedic, quick witted, perceptive, and devoted young man. I am blessed to have you as a son. May God continue to bless you both abundantly. I love you."
Instagram / Natalie Suleman
First Day of School
In August 2022, Natalie celebrated her octuplets starting eighth grade.
"Be proud of yourselves kids for being kind, respectful, and helpful to all your fellow peers, teachers and staff," she wrote on Instagram alongside their first day of school photo. "You are exceptional role models to the 6th and 7th graders. I love you."
And to any "critics" wondering about why her older kids weren't in the snap, Natalie made it clear "their older siblings did not want me to post a picture on their first day. I respect their choice, so should you."
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Beloved Cats
The family loves their fur babies too.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Look What I Made
Showing off a cat and crafts on the couch.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Twinning!
Maliyah and Nariyah were a coordinated sister act.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Fur Baby Bonding
The Sulemans are a cat family, so Maliyah took the opportunity to do some dog-sitting.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Man of the House
Natalie snuck a rare recent pic of eldest son Elijah onto her feed in honor of his 21st birthday in 2022.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Every Day is Mother's Day
Mother's Day is never lonely for Natalie, here celebrating with her octuplets and their big sister Amerah in 2022.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
12th Birthday
"Happy 12th birthday to 8 of the most kind, caring, and respectful kids I have ever known," Natalie wrote to her octuplets on Instagram in January 2021. "Your compassion for all living things and the value of humbly serving others is the definition of love. You make my heart full, and have blessed our lives abundantly. I am honored to be your mother."
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Brotherly Love
Noah and Jonah got ready to dig in.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
14 and Counting
The Suleman octuplets enjoyed baked goods on their 14th birthday.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Throwback Photos
Joshua, sporting the temporary face tat, and big brother Eli were about to take flight in this throwback pic their mom shared.
Instagram / Natalie Suleman
Loving Siblings
In this throwback photo, Natalie reflected on how "Makai has always been Aidan’s guardian angel, looking out for him from day one."
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Santa's Helpers
Getting eight children to line up and smile for a pic sounds like a Christmas miracle to us.
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