Natalie "Nadya" Suleman, famously known as "Octomom," continues her journey as a mother of 14, navigating the complexities of raising a large family while striving to provide them with a stable and fulfilling life. Suleman catapulted into the public eye in 2009 when she gave birth to the world’s first surviving set of octuplets, a feat that simultaneously brought her immense attention and considerable controversy.
Prior to the birth of her octuplets, Suleman was already a mother to six children. Balancing the demands of raising these children, attending college full-time, and facing intense public scrutiny proved to be an enormous challenge. She faced accusations of being an unemployed welfare recipient, a label she vehemently denied in an interview with People magazine. Despite the negative attention and the pressures of raising such a large family, Suleman remained committed to providing for her children and creating a nurturing environment for them to thrive.
Suleman candidly admits to past parenting missteps with her older children, acknowledging that she was overly permissive and lacked the consistent structure and discipline she now believes are crucial for raising well-adjusted individuals. "I personally believe I failed as a parent to implement all of the knowledge I acquired in college," she stated. "I raised them just permissive, which is wrong. You shouldn’t do that. You should implement consistent structure, discipline and consequences, plus love, unconditional love and acceptance. I only did the latter. I shouldn’t have spoiled them. I learned the hard way. But I still raised them to be kind and humble."
Recognizing the need for a different approach, Suleman implemented stricter rules and boundaries for her octuplets. She emphasized the importance of structure, discipline, and consequences, while also ensuring that her children felt loved and accepted unconditionally. This balance, she believes, is essential for their development and future success.
One example of Suleman’s strict parenting style is her stance on dating and social media. "They’re not allowed to date until they’re 18," she revealed. Furthermore, she maintains a no-social-media policy in her household, believing that it is "toxic" and detrimental to mental health. "It’s very different today," she explained. "I’m a little more old school in how I’m raising my kids to focus on others, try to value serving because then the byproduct of that is internal joy and happiness, rather than, no offense to other people and other kids these days, but they tend to be a little more, let’s just say self-absorbed and self-entitled. I’m raising my kids to be aware of that and try to deviate away from that." Her daughter, Nariyah, confirms this, stating, "She’s very strict, and she educates us a lot. We don’t have phones. We have one phone for communication."
Despite the challenges of raising 14 children, Suleman has managed to create a close-knit family environment. She and 11 of her children live in a three-bedroom apartment in Southern California, where they prioritize spending quality time together. The family enjoys playing games, watching movies, and engaging in other activities that foster connection and strengthen their bond.
To manage expenses and promote a healthy lifestyle, the family follows a vegan diet. "We save money because we don’t buy animal products," Suleman explained. "Those are the most expensive, too. And it’s the healthiest. But we’re ethical vegans, and so we’re doing it primarily just for the animals and to minimize the damage done to our planet."
As her children grow older, Suleman is witnessing them develop their own aspirations and goals. Her teens are looking forward to milestones such as driving and working. Her son, Jeremiah, is eager to get behind the wheel, while her daughter, Nariyah, is excited to earn money and contribute to the family. "I’m excited to be able to make money so that we can obviously help Mom," Nariyah said. Even Makai, one of the youngest octuplets, is thinking about the future, expressing his desire to buy his mother "real gifts" when he has his own money.
However, Suleman emphasizes that material possessions are not what truly matter to her. "I don’t really want real gifts," she said. "I don’t like the materialism. I love the letters you write." This sentiment reflects her commitment to raising her children to value experiences, relationships, and personal growth over material wealth.
Suleman’s journey has been far from easy, marked by public scrutiny, financial challenges, and personal struggles. She admits to having "sacrificed her integrity to provide for kids." Her story serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges of parenthood, as well as the resilience and determination of a mother striving to provide the best possible life for her children. "Confessions of Octomom" airs on Lifetime, offering viewers a glimpse into her unique and often controversial life. Suleman has faced death threats and overwhelming challenges but persevered.
