Nadya Suleman, better known as Octomom, took the world by surprise when she fell pregnant and gave birth in 2009. You see, the California resident delivered eight kids in one go! She made an unpopular and risky decision, which has resulted in a lot of criticism. Despite this, there are also people who expressed their support for her. It is only natural for the general public to express curiosity about this family. After all, octuplets are very rare! In the past few years, however, we have not heard much about them. What exactly became of Octomom and her kids? Keep reading to find out what they have been up to as of late.
Find Out What Has Happened To The Infamous Octomom
She Has Always Wanted A Huge Family
For the longest time, Nadya Suleman wanted a huge family that she can call her own. She was an only child, so she did not know what it is like to have siblings. Her biggest dream was to have children that she can raise and care for. However, she had no idea just how unusual this wish of hers was going to come true. Along the way, she had to make a difficult decision that would change her life forever. It resulted in nothing short of a miracle. But did she really make the right choice for herself and her family?
She Has Always Wanted A Huge Family
Making Her Dreams Come True
After she graduated from a high school in California, she set about to make her dreams come true. She first planned to go to college like the rest of her peers did. However, she eventually decided that the most important thing for her was to become a mom. She was still pretty young when she got what she asked for. As a matter of fact, you might even say that she was too green for it. At any rate, things did not happen exactly the way that she had in mind. Truly, you should be careful what you wish for.
Making Her Dreams Come True
The Man Of Her Dreams
Nadya Suleman met a produce manager by the name of Marcos Gutierrez just before she turned 21 years old. She felt an instant connection with him, which probably means that he is a charming guy. Their bond grew deeper and more meaningful soon enough. She was honest with him about how much she wanted to be a mom. He did not mind this at first. After all, he wanted children as well. On top of that, he was head over heels in love with her! Sadly, fate had something else in mind for the couple…
The Man Of Her Dreams
It Was A Risky Job
In 1996, the couple tied the knot. In the same year, Nadya Suleman was able to earn her psychiatric technician license from Mt. San Antonio College. On top of that, she started to work at a psychiatric facility called Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk, California. It was a rewarding job, but it was not an easy or safe one. Apart from having a family of her own, her other goal in life is to have a meaningful career. Sadly, something took place at work that ended up changing the course of her life altogether.
It Was A Risky Job
No One Expected This To Happen
Tragedy struck on September 18, 1999. Nadya Suleman did not expect to get involved in a terrifying event when she went to the psychiatric facility that day. There was a riot that broke out, caused by twenty patients. She tried to intervene right away. In the middle of the commotion, one of them threw a desk in the air. Sadly, it fell on Nadya and led to a herniated disc injury. She got $170,000 in workers’ compensation, which helped her for a little while. Sadly, this was the least of her worries at the time.
No One Expected This To Happen
Not Reaching Her Goal
The incident did not only lead to physical injury, but it also caused her emotional distress. While it was a little easier with the compensation, there was one more problem ahead of her. After the accident, she found it hard to fulfill the other lifelong dream that she had. Her husband wanted to make this goal of hers come true, but they did not get anywhere after three years. No matter what they did, they got the same result. This is to say that the couple stayed childless after all the effort that they put in. But why?
Not Reaching Her Goal
The Harsh Truth
They knew that something must be wrong. This is the reason they spoke to various doctors and asked for tips and advice on how to conceive. Nadya and Marcos were both desperate to become parents. They followed all the instructions given to them, to no avail. There was no baby on the way despite this. They failed every time, which made her lose hope and drove her into a deep depression. The couple found out that while they used the right methods, he was sterile. It meant that there is no way for the two of them to conceive naturally. It was time for the couple to look at the other options they had.
The Harsh Truth
She Was Desperate For Kids
Nadya wanted to have children really badly, so she was open to looking at the alternatives in front of them. However, her husband did not approve of trying the other options. They had very different views on the matter, which formed a gap between them. In the end, the last straw for him was the suggestion of taking the IVF route. In vitro fertilization is a medical procedure that involves the fertilization of an egg cell outside the body and then planting it inside the uterus afterward. Marcos told Nadya that he was going to leave her if she wanted to keep going with the aforementioned procedure!
She Was Desperate For Kids
Not An Easy Choice To Make
This meant that Nadya had to make a tough decision. She had to pick between Marcos or her dream of becoming a mother. Was it worth it to lose her spouse? After a while, she decided that the best course of action is to chase after her dream. It must not have been easy to make this call, but the couple got divorced in 2000. Now that he was out of the equation, she was free to get IVF and begin the family that she had so longed for. However, things did not work out exactly the way that she had in mind…
Not An Easy Choice To Make
It Came With A Certain Risk
The truth is that IVF is not all that complicated, but the success rate is not a hundred percent. On top of that, it can get very expensive too! These factors did not stop Nadya from getting it. She was fed up with all the failures along the way by then. A lot of doctors advise to plant multiple fertilized eggs so that the odds of success would be higher. There was a certain risk to this process, but was she willing to take it?
It Came With A Certain Risk
The Risk Was Worth It For Her
There was one thing that she had to keep in mind before she underwent the procedure. There was a chance that she would have multiple babies because it was possible that all the fertilized eggs would survive. This also meant that the pregnancy might get really dangerous. In the end, Nadya decided that she was willing to take on this risk. She seemed to follow a mantra that goes, “the more, the merrier.” Despite this, she should have been fearful at the very least because multiple birth can be very risky as well. At the time, no one knew what was going to happen. The only way to do so is to find out!
The Risk Was Worth It For Her
Her Very First Child
Some people do not look at multiple birth as a risk. This happens when they are hoping to get pregnant with twins or even triplets. Nadya did not exactly want multiple babies at the time, but the result of the IVF procedure took everyone by surprise. Without a doubt, it was a success no matter how you look at it. Nadya Suleman delivered a healthy baby boy called Elijah in 2001. At long last, she was a mom after wanting this for so long. This was not the end of the journey just yet as it was only the beginning for her.
Her Very First Child
She Did Not Stop There
One year after she gave birth, Nadya Suleman gave birth to a new child through IVF. This time, it was a girl called Amerah. You would think that she would have been satisfied with a baby boy and girl. Instead, she only wanted to have even more kids due to her success stories with IVF. This is the reason she got even more treatments and eventually gave birth to fraternal twins and two more kids. BY then, she was already the mother of six! This is already a lot in the United States, but she still wanted more after she gave birth to her sixth kid. Without a doubt, she believed that it is better to have more kids in the house!
She Did Not Stop There
Time For An Extreme Decision
Her next move took the whole world by surprise. In 2008, Nadya Suleman earned celebrity status with her decision. She was not yet satisfied with only six kids. This is why she spoke to Dr. Michael Kamrava, the man who administered her previous IVF treatments. She wanted another IVF procedure, but she made the call to use all six eggs that were left over from the previous treatments. After all, she did not want them to go waste! She asked him to do that, but there was even more to this amazing story.
Time For An Extreme Decision
Eager For Even More Babies
In the beginning, the doctor did not want to oblige her request. He knew that it was going to be very dangerous for her if they went through with it. Despite this, he went on to implant the six eggs because she kept insisting on it. She was aware of the fact that she might have multiple babies. If you ask us, it is intriguing that Dr. Kamrava implanted a dozen eggs. This is much higher than the recommended number! In the end, their massive risk paid off. The result of this “experiment” shocked both of them.
Eager For Even More Babies
There Were Eight Buns In The Oven
It was very bold of Nadya Suleman and Dr. Kamrava to do this. In fact, it was an unprecedented move that deviated from the norm in the field. She did not regret their plan to implant twelve embryos in her womb. There are people who would have been totally terrified, but she was actually excited about the prospect of it. In the end, eight embryos stuck. They knew that this would result in the birth of a total of eight babies! Even if this were the case, a woman might not be able to handle it. She had to make a call.
There Were Eight Buns In The Oven
How She Gained The Nickname
A pregnancy of that size is going to put a lot of strain on anyone. It is already hard enough to carry a single child, but eight is much more than the regular pregnancy. Soon enough, the media learned of her story and ran stories on Nadya Suleman and her kids. This was when she earned notoriety and fame as “Octomom.” You do not hear about anyone like her very often. However, there was a reason this was considered to be such big news. After all, she actually had a record-breaking pregnancy!
How She Gained The Nickname
The Delivery Was A Success
It did not take long before it was time for the moment of truth. Everyone waited to see what the delivery would be like. In the end, all eight of her babies were safe and well! We are sure that Nadya Suleman was relieved once she heard that this was the case. The entire world had its eyes on her as well. Everyone was fascinated by the birth of octuplets since there has never been anything exactly like it in the past. The octuplets set a record since they were all born alive and survived more than a week after their birth. This was the first time that such a thing has been documented.
The Delivery Was A Success
The Whole World Was Watching Her
Nadya Suleman was just glad that she could meet the babies at long last. She could not wait for all fourteen of her kids to meet one another. The world watched on as this happened. People had doubts that she could take on so much responsibility. That said, her story was such huge news that everyone wanted the details. This was especially true for those in the medical field. A lot of doctors tried to talk to her after the birth of the octuplets because it seemed like a medical miracle to them. As you can imagine, they had a ton of questions to ask this amazing woman.
The Whole World Was Watching Her
Hounded By The Media
Prior to the birth of the octuplets, Nadya Suleman was already a bit of a media sensation. Newspapers, news channels, and websites ran stories on the unique pregnancy. People were starting to recognize her, but not everyone knew her real name. She was more famous under the name Octomom. She tried to gain control of the story, but it was hard. At the same time, she thought about using all the attention to support her huge family when it comes to finances. She employed a team to deal with public relations after the birth of the octuplets. Was she going to succeed in her quest to control the narrative?
Hounded By The Media
Her Pubic Persona
The media attention did not disappear after she gave birth to the babies. However, this came with a ton of criticism as well. These people said that she craved the spotlight, going as far as to say that this is the reason that she decided to take the risks and have so many kids. We are sure that it was not easy for her to raise fourteen kids on her own. It was not easy to deal with the fame as time passed by. The pregnancy was already controversial enough on its own, but people also approached her in person and said that she was wasting taxpayers’ money! It did not help that she received threats to cap it all off.
Her Pubic Persona
It Was All Too Much
While there was plenty of negativity coming her way, there were others that supported the whole family. No matter what, however, the media attention wound up becoming too much. She was unable to gain control of the narrative like she had been hoping to do at first. When she finally realized how hard it would be, she decided to talk about the struggles that she has experienced. In an interview with People, Nadya Suleman talked about how people saw her. “I don’t get much sleep, about two or three hours a night. But I’m continuing to move forward with my life and trying to be the best mother I can be,” she said. Despite her best efforts, some people could not help but feel skeptical about Octomom.
It Was All Too Much
She Was In A Dark Place
Years after she gave birth to the octuplets, people continued to speculate about Nadya Suleman. There were a ton of people who adored and supported the family, but her critics did not back down just like that. This started to impact her ability to take care of the kids. There were a couple of reports that said she was in a dark place. From the look of things, not everything was going according to plan. It must not be easy to deal with the criticisms and take care of fourteen kids all at the same time. Anyone would find it hard if they were in her shoes. In the end, she still had to provide for her children and accepted welfare. There was one more problem that the government could not help her with, however…
She Was In A Dark Place
Her Problems At Home
There were also rumors that said she was mistreating the children! In a way, it makes sense. When you are a single mother with fourteen kids, it would be very difficult to ensure that each and every child gets their needs addressed. Child Protective Services even entered the mix and investigated the family. They conducted an investigation to see if Nadya was indeed neglecting the kids. In the end, the authorities did not find anything to indicate that this was the case. Yes, the rumors were baseless! As a matter of fact, the officials even said that the house was suitable for young children. What a relief it is to hear that.
Her Problems At Home
No Choice But To Move Out
Sadly, not everyone agreed with the comment by the Child Protective Services. There was someone else who had the power to affect the life of Nadya Suleman and her kids. We are talking about none other than the landlord. He did not like what he saw and said that Nadya violated the terms of her lease. He even told the press about this before evicting the single mother and her fourteen kids. She wanted to be a good mother even though they were now out of a house. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
No Choice But To Move Out
The Situation Was Dire
To her dismay, it seemed impossible to convince the landlord to let them stay. The family had no choice but to move out. The media was already painting her as a bad mother, but the truth was that Nadya Suleman deeply cared for the kids. She said that this is the real version of herself. The catch was that she did not have money to put a roof above their heads. This poor mom needed money as soon as possible, which is why she tried her hand in movies, business, and music. How did she fare in these industries?
The Situation Was Dire
She Had To Start Anew
The stress of the spotlight got to her in the end. It was a good thing that she realized what was going on. That was how she knew it was time to let go of everything and start from scratch. She decided to turn into a different person. This single mom did not want to be anything like the caricatures that they made of her. She was aware that turning things around would allow her to be a better mother to her kids and lead to a happier life. We are glad that she managed to pull off such a thing. First of all, she changed her name to Natalie. She also earned a college degree and now works as a family therapist on the side.
She Had To Start Anew
How They Are Doing Now
Her octuplets are now twelve years old. It looks like they are all doing well. The kids do not seem to mind being vegan, although we know that it must not be easy. After all, kids tend to love chocolates and candies! Natalie said that her children know about the journey she took. She considers it important to be open and straightforward with her kids. If you ask her, everything that took place turned out all right in the end. On top of that, she thinks that family is now on the right track. She wants the family to be healthy, for one. The idea of a healthy household is something her Instagram followers know about.
How They Are Doing Now
Thanks To Her Guardian Angel
Natalie Suleman is now in her forties. It looks like things are going well for her! She has since quit the rather questionable jobs she once had. Asked why she decided to turn things around, she talked about how she met a “guardian angel” in February 2013. He was the one who gave her the strength to cut off her “seedy” lifestyle. While she was still working in the film industry, a tall guy went up to her in a club in Florida. “He walked straight to me and looked straight into my eyes. He took my hand and grabbed my arm and said in a very gentle, but firm way: ‘You don’t have to do this.’ He repeated it several times,” she said. The moment felt really eye-opening to her. She could not help but cry there and then. It marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life!
Thanks To Her Guardian Angel
Looking Back At Her Past
In 2013, she started her life overhaul and admitted that she had been “foolish, immature, and selfish.” Natalie know acknowledges that it was unwise to have had so many children without thinking about it long and hard. On top of that, she said that she did not really give thought to the effects of those choices. Despite everything, she does not regret it. She soldiers on with the goal of raising her kids. This is her top priority in life! She is open to finding love again but does not mind celibacy. If you check her social media pages, you will see just how much things have changed for her and the whole family! Isn’t it amazing to think that she did all of this for the sake of her children?
Looking Back At Her Past
They Now Lead A Humble Life
Can you imagine how hard it must be to raise fourteen kids on your own? There is no doubt that it is hard. Even so, Natalie has been able to pull this off. She now rents a two-bedroom apartment, but the family relies on food stamps as they live paycheck to paycheck. The Daily Mail said that she is now “at peace” partly due to how her story can inspire and encourage others to make wise decisions. For what it is worth, she does not like the “Octomom” nickname any more. “I didn’t want to live. I felt less than human as that character I was pretending to be, to survive and provide for my family,” she explained.
They Now Lead A Humble Life
Giving Up Her Social Life
With fourteen kids, she feels a lot happier now. She is just glad to spend some quality time with the little kids. The octuplets are called Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Josiah, Maliyah, Makai, Noah, and Nariya. Let us not forget about the older kids either! The twins are called Calyssa and Caleb. There is also Aiden, Joshua, Amerah, and Elijah. Now that Natalie has her eyes set on giving the kids a stable life, she moved back to her hometown of Laguna in Orange County. She said that she wants to make the kids proud. “I was forced into doing things I didn’t want to do because I was so terrified I couldn’t support them and give them the life they deserved,” she shared with the Daily Mail.
Giving Up Her Social Life
Just Like Any Other Family
You can probably tell that she is a hands-on mom. Natalie has pretty much given up a social life to look after them. On the bright side, it means that she is close to her kids. “They fight, play, fight and play again like any normal family,” she told The Daily Mail. She also has to deal with the autism that Aiden has, but this does not stop him from doing anything. It helps that the other kids look after him as well! All of the kids know by now that their home life is not like that of their friends and peers. Even so, Natalia made sure to teach them that there is nothing wrong with being different.
Just Like Any Other Family
When It Comes To Holidays
While things can get rough for Natalie and the kids, they make up a big and happy family. She teaches them good values, like being content with getting just one present on Christmas day. It is easier for her to keep it single. The single mom told US Weekly, “I’m focusing on raising the kids to focus on serving other people, to get out of their own head.” She believes that by doing this, the kids are learning how to value every single thing that they get. It also teaches them not to expect free things and work hard for what they want. Aside from those things, her finances simply can’t sustain an extravagant lifestyle!
When It Comes To Holidays
Getting All The Kids Ready For School
It is already stressful enough to get your kid ready for the beginning of the school year. This process is at least a few times more difficult when you have fourteen kids! On social media, she shared what it is like by sharing a photo of the octuplets posing for the camera before they left for school. “Any other parents exceptionally stressed and overwhelmed by the first week back to school?” the mom said in the caption of the photo. She said that the older kids did not want to be in the photo even though she begged them.
Getting All The Kids Ready For School
How She Manages Her Stress
Isn’t it impressive that she has not lost her mind with so many kids in the house? It is a good thing that she has found a way to let go of her stress. She hits the nearest gym for one to two hours to blow some steam. Her social media fans must already know this since she posts photos like this one. “I would like to share about how I cope with inordinate stress, after being asked how I stay sane lol,” said the caption. She also said that exercising has long been a way to cope with stress. The single mom added, “The stress literally drips off of me, as I’m drenched in the end. Being physical has significantly helped me cope with so many challenges I’ve struggled with throughout my life.”
How She Manages Her Stress
Bonding With The Girls
Natalie is not just a strict mom but a very fun one too! One of her favorite things to do is to go with her daughters to a spa! She makes sure to document the entire process as well. This proud mother takes shots of her kids as they put on skin care products and face masks. She wants to give them all the same amount of love and time, so she bonds with the boys too. They do this by watching scary flicks together! We can clearly see that her top priority in life is her brood. She is not shy about it either.
Bonding With The Girls
At The Dr. Oz Show
In May 2018, Natalie got an invitation to talk about her journey on The Dr. Oz Show. They asked what made her decide to go through a couple of IVF procedures, as well as why she wound up with fourteen kids. On top of all that, she spoke about how she transitions from “Octomom” to who she was now. She discussed her transition into the happy and healthy mother that she now is. Among other things, she shared the hardships that she experienced and the desperation that she felt back in the day. If you want to keep up with them, make sure to check out the YouTube page she started with the kids.
At The Dr. Oz Show
It Is A Matter Of Luck
How much do you and your siblings look alike? The variation of genes is the reason you might not look all that similar. It is pretty much a game of luck more than anything. People receive a specific set of genetic attributes, while others do not. It is only natural for the genetic features of parents to be spread out across all the kids in the family. We are sure that this comes in handy for Natalie sometimes. It would be much harder if they were all identical! Nariyah and Noah, two of the Octuplets, look pretty different.
It Is A Matter Of Luck
They Are All Active People
The octuplets are vegans and enjoy raw veggies. On top of that, they are all active and healthy kids as well. They even join marathons! Check out this photo of them after they finished five kilometers at the Russ Miller Memorial in February 2018. We are glad to share that they like to help various causes too. The kids like to join events that allow them to help those in end! Isn’t it lovely that Natalie has instilled such values in them even though they are still so young? We can tell that all of her hard work has been paying off. Her fans would be happy to know that her children are only getting more and more caring!
They Are All Active People
What The Kids Are Up To
Aside from their extracurricular activities, the octuplets are very good students as well. Here is a photo that shows them with posters. The kids made it for a task at school. Natalie does not like to boast about the accomplishments of the kids, but fans are eager to know what they have been up to. This is the reason Natalie posts photos and updates on social media. It goes without saying that she is dedicated to all of her children. She gives it her all when it comes to raising the kids! But what is next for her and her kids?
What The Kids Are Up To
Their Lovely Handmade Cards
Natalie is of the belief that everything she does for the kids is worth it. We can see that the children love her too, especially once Mother’s Day rolls in. Natalie took a photo of the gifts and cards that the kids gave her on such a special occasion. She was inspired to talk about her experience as a mom to an autistic child and thirteen other healthy kids in tow. “It’s a story that needs to be told and I think it will encourage a lot of women to draw up strength they didn’t know they had,” she shared to the Daily Mail. If you ask us, it sure is incredible to see the way she is using her platform for good! You go, Natalie.
Their Lovely Handmade Cards
There Are Only Four Daughters
Out of her fourteen kids, there are only four girls. This is the reason they tend to be close even though there is an age gap between them. Natalie likes to spend some time on the sofa with them as well! This photo just shows us Nariyah, Calyssa, and Amerah at the birthday celebration of the last one. This is a great photo that shows a lovely moment the hard-working mother shared with her daughters. It is nice to hear that she at least sets aside some time each week to bond with the girls and the boys separately.
There Are Only Four Daughters
Their Family Fun Night
Natalie has previously talked about how important it is to have family traditions. In the Suleman family, this means that Saturday nights are pretty serious. The entire family launched a tradition that they call, “Family Fun Night.” This allows them to spend some time together even though they have different likes and dislikes. They sometimes play board games, watch movies, or partake in different activities. It looks like watching The Shining and playing chess are some of the most popular things to do in the household. It is great to hear that the teens like to hang out with their little siblings as well!
Their Family Fun Night
During A School Play
By now, her children already know that they are not like most families in the world. Despite this, they have learned to embrace the things that make them so unique. It goes without saying that the single mom is immensely proud of all of them. The photo below was taken after the kids took part in a school play. This just shows us how much they have since grown! Don’t they all look handsome and beautiful?
During A School Play
They Like Raw Veggies
On Instagram, Natalie shared this photo and said this in the caption: “Could we be anymore vegan?” The six older kids are not vegans, but all of the octuplets follow this healthy diet. They like health shakes, bell peppers, organic kale, chard, and beets! It is not rare to see them munch on sprouted lentils and quinoa at home. They also eat vegan desserts like raw almond butter and green apple. The truth is that Natalie grew up an ethical vegetarian, so she did not find it hard to go vegan. It also allowed her body to recover from everything that it had been through after giving birth so many times in the past. Good for her!
They Like Raw Veggies
When The Family Is Complete
We can already tell that it is not easy to bring the whole family together for a single meal. When you have every single member of the family, it is considered a big deal. On Instagram, she posted this photo with this caption: “So THIS is what happened when we attempted to take a fun family photo with as many family members as possible. Per usual, Elijah, Amerah, and JJ are absent from the pic.” With the help of social media, she now finds it easy to share different moments in their lives. Many of her followers know what she has been true. We bet that they are both amazed by and proud of this mom!
When The Family Is Complete
A YouTube Channel Of Her Own
Natalie is only a part-time counselor, so she decided to launch a YouTube channel of her own. This would let her reach a wider group of people. The first video on the channel shows Amerah as the young girl reads the letter that she wrote on Mother’s Day. The clip runs for six minutes, and it was shot in Long Beach, California. She dedicated it to all the women in the world. After her speech, the rest of the Suleman kids handed their own gifts to their mother. In the past, Natalie has been through so many things. We are glad that she has found a way to share her story with the rest of the world! On top of that, it is also a very cool way to keep their fans updated on whatever they have been up to lately.
A YouTube Channel Of Her Own
Many Things To Be Thankful For
This single mom makes sure to encourage the kids to lead active lives. Natalie encourages them to make a difference as well. This is why ten of the kids joined a 5-km family run known as the Turkey Trot. You can see that their team spirit is alive and kicking from the matching T-shirts that they have on. Natalie has a lot of things to show gratitude over on Thanksgiving. One of them happens to be the victory claimed by Noah, Josiah, Isaiah, and Maliyah in their own age groups. They got to bring home pumpkin pies as prizes. We wonder if they feasted on that instead of turkey since most of the kids are vegan!
Many Things To Be Thankful For
Her Previous Struggles In Life
You might not be able to tell right now, but Natalie has gone through a lot in the past. For one thing, she struggled physically and emotionally. She also continues to raise the octuplets and the rest of the kids on her own. Do you remember how she was once injured? It would be a disservice to forget that she injured her lumbar spine in the past. She continues to suffer from peripheral neuropathy and bilateral sciatica even to this day. The injuries from her pregnancy have caused her a lot of pain, so she climbs ten miles on the stair master each day to keep the pain at bay. She also developed severe social anxiety as a young girl, so she prefers to hit the women-only gym! Check out this photo that she took as a way to express her gratitude for the free workout clothes.
Her Previous Struggles In Life
A Young Natalie
Natalie Suleman took to social media to share this throwback photo! Isn’t it cute how she had smeared lipstick and a messy clown getup for Halloween 1978? Even though she has since changed her name, she does not want to forget everything about her past life. The only thing that she wants to forget about would be the Octomom persona. After all, it almost destroyed everything she loves in life. She has since proven to us that she is a great mom to her fourteen kids. It is not easy, but she makes it work! We are just glad to hear that she is now in a much better place.
A Young Natalie
She Always Been A Cat Lover
Before she turned into a mom, Natalie got to express her maternal side in her youth. Even though she got to take care of more than a dozen felines in the past, the only one to steal her heart was called Boots. This photo shows her with the cat in question all the way back in 1975. At the time, she was no more than a toddler! Her kids love this photo, especially Calyssa. The little girl is a cat lover just like her mom. It is funny to hear that they were shocked to see that Boots was very fat at more than 50 pounds!
She Always Been A Cat Lover
Her Throwback Picture
Here is a throwback photo that dates all the way back to the ‘80s. This was shot in Germany and shows little Natalie at the age of two. Doesn’t she look just like Caleb? We can also see where the ids got the fair skin that some of them have. Natalie likes to share these lovely photos of her childhood since they allow her the opportunity to appreciate the members of her family some more. Even though it is not easy to raise so many kids in a single household, her positive attitude makes it so much easier.
Her Throwback Picture
How She Was Raised
She has plenty of followers eager to hear about her past. This is the reason she cleared it all up in a post with this caption: “Happy Father’s Day to my dad “Eddie” (a nickname he adopted to sound more American since emigrating from Jerusalem, Palestine fifty years ago).” A follower of hers said, “Love this. But why have you given your kids Jewish names when your father is Muslim?” You might have been wondering about that too! “Yes absolutely, and when my father immigrated to America, he befriended many Israelis and loved all people unconditionally,” Natalie replied. She decided to use this as an opportunity to talk about her youth some more: “This is how I grew up, loving all human beings, and embracing differences. Sad how America is so polarized in recent years. I pray one day we will all unite.”
How She Was Raised
Putting The Octomom Persona Behind Her
Natalie knows what it is like to be in the middle of the spotlight. For a few years, she lived life in the public eye. We do not hear much about the family in the media nowadays. This might have to do with the way she hired a PR agency. She has since gotten more careful with what she shares about the family. She does not “exploit” the kids and talked about this in a social media post. “I have always been against exploiting kids on a ‘docu-series’ or ‘reality’ type show (am aware consistent filming can be deleterious to a child’s developmental process); and all the documentaries we have done have been filmed and aired only in international countries,” she said. And now that her children are a little older, she explained, “At this point in time, my family and I would be open to an American documentary.”
Putting The Octomom Persona Behind Her
The Family Loves Animals
On social media, Natalie has shared a couple of family moments to show us what it is like to be a part of the Suleman household. It looks like her maternal instincts have already been passed on to some of the children. It looks like she was not happy with only fourteen kids in the house, so she decided to welcome animals into the mix as well! The single mom posted this photo of Maliyah with the cat that she calls “her BIG baby Penelope.” Natalie makes sure to give the animals as much attention as the kids as well.
The Family Loves Animals
A Lot Of Veggies Per Meal
There is no doubt in our mind that grocery shopping for the Suleman family can get really crazy. With so many people in the house, you have to plan ahead of time. It has always been the goal of Natalie to teach the kids healthy food choices. In one of the photos that she posted, she showed Jonah holding a huge green chard. The caption said, “Jonah sharing the soon to be devoured forest before dinner.” A lot of people ask her questions on social media. One of them asked about how much shopping she does. She said, “Every two days! In all honesty, shopping for fresh organic produce is the only shopping I love!”
A Lot Of Veggies Per Meal
The Possibility Of A Future Cookbook
On social media, Natalie posts regularly about the kids. You should not be surprised to hear about the healthy food that she whips up for the kids. She has even caused a stir of sorts in the community. Her posts about healthy meals have gotten her a ton of praise. A fan went as far as to say, “You are an inspiration and should do a cookbook!” She said that she will explore the idea in the future with this reply of hers: “The kids would love to help create a cookbook!” Let us keep our fingers crossed for this.
The Possibility Of A Future Cookbook
Kids Having A Blast
There was a time in which Natalie had a high-profile life. It looks like she is now a down-to-earth mom who lets the kids be kids. She posted a cheeky photo of three of them goofing around outside the house. The caption said, “Three little monkeys hanging on a tree, sharing with you all to see.” She must have attracted many fans by keeping it real. It helps that her kids are all healthy, happy, and playful. When she posted that, she got a lot of positive responses from her followers. Here is one: “You are doing an amazing job raising beautiful children!” and “I love seeing kids being kids!! Outside! Stay strong Mama”
Kids Having A Blast
A Sweet Birthday Surprise
She does everything in her power to keep the kids happy. It is always nice to see that her children also appreciate the efforts that she makes. Natalie shared an adorable photo of the birthday breakfast that her children prepared for her. “Awoke this Sunday morning to 8 amazing kids surprising me with the best early birthday (big omg) breakfast!” she said. It is sweet to think of all the effort and thought that the kids put into this surprise. We can tell that they are lovely children inside and out! The food was, of course, vegan. It came with a pancake, peanut butter, maple syrup, mac and cheese, coffee, and fruit!
A Sweet Birthday Surprise
Never Fails To Cook Healthy Food
A lot of busy moms do not have time to make a good breakfast for the rest of the family. Despite this, Natalie works hard to make healthy meals for the kids. She posted a photo of her healthy and delicious vegan breakfast. It came with this caption: “Sometimes breakfast and lunch looks like this”. She has added all kinds of ingredients to it such as apple, banana, blueberries, blackberries, pineapple, goji berries, golden berries, mulberry, maqui powder, and moringa powder! How does she do it?! “I love that you and your family are vegan and so healthy! I’m a single mom too, your story inspired me to keep my eyes focused on the babies when there is so much to distract us in the world,” one of her fans said.
Never Fails To Cook Healthy Food
People Are Worried For Them
She has also gotten plenty of praise for her decision to raise the octuplets on a vegan diet. Still, there were folks who said that this might not be a good idea for the development of the kids. We can tell that she has heard this in the past as she said, “Yes the little kids and I are vegan! Their pediatrician said they are some of the healthiest kids she has ever seen in her practice.” A fan of her chimed in to say, “Good job momma influencing your kids to lead the healthiest (and most compassionate) lifestyle!”
People Are Worried For Them
It Is Pre-Workout Food
One reason Natalie works hard to stay healthy and follow the vegan diet is that her meals serve as pre-workout food as well. She is usually asked what food she eats on a daily basis. She replied, “Pre/post workout, breakfast and lunch, in addition to 2-3 gallons of Alkaline water.” Natalie added, “For dinner I eat raw vegetables such as organic kale, chard, collard greens, bell peppers, and red or golden beets (plus a cooked vegan dinner such as organic sprouted lentils or quinoa).” The single mom explained it in more depth: “I grew up an ethical vegetarian (was an animal rescuer with my mom and adore all living things); therefore going vegan was not a challenging transition. Becoming raw has only enhanced my health, clarified and strengthened my mind, and helped heal my broken back (from her earlier injuries).”
It Is Pre-Workout Food
They Are Not All Vegan
Natalie tends to post a ton of photos of the octuplets and the meals that they eat. She has always shared vegan recipes. On top of that, she has been open about her vegan activism for a while now. Her older children do not share her views, but she shared a photo of the younger kids buying fresh veggies at the store. Aside from that, she also showed a photo of Amerah looking stubborn. “The look my daughter gives me when I educate her on the benefits of being vegan,” she said in the captions. At any rate, it looks like the octuplets are all on their way into becoming lovely adults. Natalie must be proud!
They Are Not All Vegan
She Wants Them To Be Kind
It is important for her to teach the kids good values. She wants them to always spread kindness. On Amerah’s birthday, Natalie said, “One of the most important lessons I try to teach you all is that every person that crosses your path is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind, compassionate, and patient with people always; and aware that sometimes the brighter the smile the deeper the suffering.” The single mom went on, “By looking at your beautiful smile no one could imagine the struggle you face, that we all face, daily. We are going through challenges for reasons God only knows, yet those challenges are meant to forge, shape, and strengthen our character. We have to be patient, continue to pray, and never stop working relentlessly and consistently at achieving our goals.”
She Wants Them To Be Kind
Looking For The Big Kids
You will find a lot of photos of the octuplets on her social media accounts, but what about the older ones? Natalie says that they do not enjoy the spotlight very much. In one post, she cleared up this matter with regards to Amerah. She explained, “I am often asked, ‘where are your big kids’ lol…well they are all healthy, thriving, caring, compassionate towards others, focused on succeeding in school (a priority), and very busy socializing with friends (who I must know). I know where each and every one of my 14 children are 100% of the time, as I am a very over-protective parent. This is the closest Amerah will get to allowing me to show her off on social media and I respect her choice. (my oldest girl). My kids are very modest, respect themselves, and others, and I admire and love them all more than words or pictures could possibly express.”
Looking For The Big Kids
When They Are At School
This might look like a normal photo of several kids in third grade, but what makes it so unique is that they are related! Not only that, but they happen to be of the same age. The octuplets make up almost half the entire class. It is nice to see how excited they were to be back at school after a break. It must be fun to have your best friends in the same class no matter what. Natalie shared the photo and said this in the caption: “Had to share the first day of third grade! Caleb and Calyssa didn’t want me to ‘embarrass’ them by taking a pic lol.” The mom also said that they were all thrilled for the first day of school. We are sure that Natalie was just as excited as they were since it means peace and quiet at home.
When They Are At School
She Is An ‘Insta-Inspiration’
Natalie has gotten a ton of negative and positive attention for her choices in life. On social media, her fans look up to her for the inspiring and strong mother that she is. They think of her as an ‘insta-inspiration.’ She gets a lot of sweet comments like this one: “I love how you have changed your life and continued college through it all and I absolutely adore that your kids are vegan! You’re an inspiration now as a mother of one I need to continue with my masters and or to a PhD.” Someone else said, “Your dedication and love to your kids is something half of society lacks. I have 3 in a row as a single mom and I feel sorry for myself. I enjoy learning from your story and truly feel more positive about things. Keep fighting the fight.”
She Is An ‘Insta-Inspiration’
The Family Is Happy And Healthy
In the photos that she shares, the kids all look happy and healthy. Aside from that, they always look ready for photos too! It looks like they have so much energy and know how to work the camera. When Natalie posted this photo at the pool of a friend, she said, “It seems like they were just born… Good looking group of kids…” This single mom likes to post about how the kids like their vegan diet or go on 5K runs with each other. We wonder if this is the secret to their happiness. At any rate, it is amazing to see just how much she has turned things around. Kudos to her for raising such lovely children!
The Family Is Happy And Healthy