Entertainment

'Octomom' Natalie Suleman Opens Up About Her Family & Her Insecurities

EntertainmentPublished Apr 8, 2019
By Nicole Pomarico
Natalie Octomom SulemanPeter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire via Getty Images

It's hard to believe that it's been a decade since "Octomom" Natalie Suleman gave birth to octuplets in January 2009. And if you're curious about what she and her 14 children are up to these days, you're definitely not the only one. Natalie Suleman is opening up about her fears and insecurities, reflecting on what the media has said about her family recently. Though her situation has been a lot different than what most of us have experienced, in the end, all she wants to do is what all parents want: to protect her kids.

Natalie shared a screenshot of a recent New York Times story about where she and her family are today.

The headline reads "The Octomom Has Proved Us All Wrong," but as Natalie writes in her caption, that was never her goal. She admitted that when she had her octuplets, she was scared and living in poverty. All she needed to do was to prove to herself that she could make it, but she said that the media "hijacked" her life.

"Proving other people wrong was never my intention when I gave birth to a small village ten years ago," she wrote in her Instagram post. "If there was anyone I needed to prove anything to, it was myself."

She continues:

"My fears, doubts, and insecurities were palpable; I was single, alone, in poverty, and terrified. What had I done to my family? How could I be so selfish and immature? Fear was the fuel I used to fight for my family. I never planned, never wanted, nor was prepared to be propelled into the public eye ....

Out of desperation to provide for my family I pretended to be something I was the polar opposite of. I listened to everyone other than my own self. It wasn’t until I stopped pretending, risked losing everything, and began following what I truly believed in, that my life fell into place."

The Octomom went on to talk about what might be next for her and her family -- including the possibility of seeing them on TV.

Natalie said that reality shows are too invasive for her family to consider, but documentaries now and then are on the table.

"I am grateful, though will be far more open to embracing other options (such as a docu-series) when my children are a little older and their sense of self is stronger and more mature," she said. "Documentaries (in countries other than our own, ironically) continue to be presented to us, which are incredible sources of supplemental income." 

We can't really blame her for that one. Being followed by cameras is hard for a kid, and being that Natalie knows what it's like to be constantly in the spotlight, it's no surprise that's not what she wants for her children.

Natalie's rise to stardom was quick, and for awhile, Octomom was *everywhere.*-placeholder
Natalie's rise to stardom was quick, and for awhile, Octomom was *everywhere.*
Charles Norfleet/Getty Images

Natalie's rise to stardom was quick, and for awhile, Octomom was *everywhere.*

As that New York Times story pointed out, Natalie dabbled in adult films, exotic dancing, and boxing --  and even plastic surgery. But in the end, Natalie told the Times that she was just desperate to provide for her family, and that her actions during that time weren't reflective of who she actually is. 

"I was pretending to be a fake, a caricature, which is something I'm not, and I was doing it out of desperation and scarcity so I could provide for my family," she said. "I've been hiding from the real world all my life."

Now, her life is much quieter, and if you follow her on Instagram, you know that she's just enjoying her time with her kids.

Fitness and healthy eating are very important to Natalie, and so is hanging out with her kiddos. They spend a lot of time outside, go to the pool, play board games, and watch movies.

They're a lot like any other family, just ... bigger.

And in every photo that Natalie posts of her octuplets, they all seem very happy and taken care of. No, she didn't need to prove anyone wrong, but just in case there were still people out there who believed she couldn't handle the stress of so many kids, it seems she's doing just fine.

Caring for so many kids isn't easy, but so far, Natalie seems to be killing it.

We're rooting for her, and looking forward to the family adventures she shares in the future.

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