Updated August 2022
13 years ago, a woman by the name of Nadya Suleman gave birth to eight babies. She was single, and already had six other children. She was jobless and she was immediately dubbed Octomom.
Naturally, the media went crazy. As the comments and death threats came in, Nadya quickly discovered that strangers had a very strong opinion about her decision to have children.
Stories, stripping and a sex tape
To make ends meet, Nadya sold her story. She accepted the nickname and she opened her doors to allow the media a sneak peek into the chaotic world of raising eight newborns, plus six older kids, as a single mum. As the babies got older, the attention died down, but the rising costs did not.
She then turned to other measures to put food on the table – she made a sex tape, became a stripper and posed for a nude photoshoot. She continued to let the media into her life, to play the role of ‘Octomom’ and to allow the critics to comment on her ‘irresponsible’ choice to add to her already-large family.
You probably remember all of this unfolding in the tabloids a few years ago. The babies were the world’s first surviving octuplets and born via IVF to a single mum, I mean, that’s definitely going to cause a stir.
But where are the kids now? Whatever happened to Octomom and her tribe?
Octomom 13 years on
Well ladies and gents, Octomom Nadya is no more. The now-46-year old goes by the name Natalie and, by the looks of Instagram, all’s well in the busy household.
The octuplets – Noah, Maliyah, Isaiah, Nariyah, Jonah, Makai, Josiah, and Jeremiah are officially entering GRADE EIGHT this month and are a constant fixture on mum’s Instagram page.
Her older kids – Calyssa, Aiden, Joshua, Elijah, Caleb, and Amerah – also make the occasional Instagram appearance.
As Natalie proudly shares on her page with an accompanying photo of her smiling 13-year-old octuplets:
First day of 8th grade. Be proud of yourselves kids for being kind, respectful, and helpful to all your fellow peers, teachers and staff. You are exceptional role models to the 6th and 7th graders. I love you (Side note to critics: their older siblings did not want me to post a picture on their first day. I respect their choice, so should you).”
Natalie is very open about her life on Instagram and it’s refreshing to see. You may recall the public mummy shaming Natalie endured and it’s lovely to see her rise above it.
New name, new goals, new life
In a previous interview, Natalie admitted that her choices in the past weren’t always the best ones. “I think I was young, dumb, irresponsible, selfish, reckless,” she told Sunday Night in 2019.
But she remains positive and focused on providing for her kids.
Natalie writes,
As a mom I try to instill the value of relentless drive, determination, and perseverance, despite the obstacles we face in life.
Despite the pain of my past, I’ve chosen to use my struggles as stepping stones, promoting my pursuit of achieving the goals I’ve set for my family.
We parents lead by example and set the stage for our childrens [sic] future health. I chose to instill the value of health/fitness by leading the lifestyle I want my kids to live.”
She also recently shared how the media slammed her choices as a mother and how the ‘mummy shaming’ impacted her and now, her children.
Had I given birth to Octuplets at a more recent time in history, I would never have been the target of media humiliation, misrepresentation, becoming the poster person for “mommy shaming.”
Culture of shame has created an epidemic of cyber bullying and online harassment. I was both cyber and physically stoned by my society and the world all around (literally smashing my house and car windows with stones).
This persecution of a mother would be appalling and even protested against in 2021; though was accepted and encouraged in the toxic 2000’s.
Sadly, I a MOTHER, was personally protested against, by ignorant parents and their ignorant children; as ignorance breeds ignorance. In addition, the hundreds of hateful parents and “neighbors” protesting (not shown), held up signs saying, “No more babies,” “stop stealing our tax payers money,” “Octomom is mentally ill,” “Kill Octomom.” And one sick protester actually wrote “kill the babies.”
Why did I share this part of my painful past? One of my older kids found these pictures on the internet and it infuriated me. Feelings of resentment toward fellow human beings surfaced, and I felt compelled to share…”
Looking back, it’s terrible to think about how the media treated Natalie, but it’s lovely to see Natalie smiling, happy, and enjoying motherhood without the media scrutinizing her every move.
There are pics of the kids celebrating birthdays, going on family hikes, swimming, winning medals, completing in a 5km fun run together – you know, typical family things.
In the photos, the kids look happy, healthy, active, and relaxed. Of course, it probably took 20 minutes to actually get a decent snap but, hey, we’ve all been there. It takes me 200 tries to get a decent pic of my kids, and I only have three of them!
Kudos to Natalie for raising 14 babies and good luck on the next chapter – raising 14 teenagers. Can you even imagine?
