There once was a woman who lived in a shoe - she had so many children she didn't know what to do. No! Wait! That's a nursery rhyme. Let's get to real life.
Monday March 10, 2025
Sometimes in life, we are programmed to do things that we could never imagine we were capable of doing, and yet something within us - our programming - propels us on to something more than we are.
On January 26, 2009 a woman name Nadya Suleman made history when she gave birth using IVF to eight babies - six boys and two girls - that all survived.
She was nicknamed "Octomom" a title she hated ... and so her saga of bringing up the octuplets and her six older children became a newsworthy story people would either embrace or ridicule.
Here and there I would follow the story of this mom of 14 and how she managed to survive. Every year on the octuplets' birthday, January 26, I would post a new pic and wish them all a happy life.
At the time many believed Nadya was emulating Angelina Jolie with having a large family among other things. Both women lived in southern California - their dates of birth one month apart. Angelina was born June 4, 1975 and Nadya on July 11, 1975. I remember discussions about Nadya wanting to look like Angelina and getting lip fill. But their backgrounds and lives were worlds apart.
Today Nadya goes by the name Natalie Suleman. Sixteen years have passed as we find all of her 14 children - including her severely autistic son, Aiden - in good health and thriving. Aiden is sitting in a chair next to his mom in the pic above. I often thought that just raising one child with severe autism would be more than most people could handle, and there was Nadia with 13 other children, and off and on help.
Tonight the Lifetime Channel presents Confessions of Octomom a six-part docuseries that finds Natalie speaking out for the first time in over a decade. In addition to hearing from her - many of the children are speaking out and appearing on camera for the first time - including her sperm donor who has never come forward before. I had always assumed there was more than one sperm donor, especially as two of the octuplets have different coloring and blonde hair. We will soon find out the answer if Natalie even knows unless they did DNA testing.
The series also follows the octuplets through their challenges and triumphs, growing up in the spotlight and their desire to move beyond their now secluded life.
The series will also shine a light on Natalie's fertility specialist, Dr. Michael Kamrava, who controversially implanted 12 embryos into her body - six times the typical amount. Kamrava does not appear in the documentary but Suleman does speak to her mixed emotions about the doctor, whose medical license was revoked in July 2011.
I look forward to watching the docuseries.
Monday March 10, 2025
I watched the first episode of Confessions of Octomom and though I was familiar with Natalie's story it was interesting to hear it told from the perspectives of those who lived it.
As an only child - I could understand Nadya's need to have a larger family, but there was always the conclusion that she had emotional problems and unique programming in the simulation to have had so many babies with only her aging parents as back-up. Sadly her parents passed away - but there were snippets from each of them edited into the storyline.
Life is about emotions. People and therapists always ask, "How do/did you feel about ..?"
Emotions - and how we deal with them - run the simulation in physical reality.
There are many take-aways while listening to Nadya talk about her depression, social anxiety, and breakdowns - and how working-out helped her deal with life. Today we know so much more about mental illness and how people with emotional problems need to be physically active to help balance the chemistry in the brain.
Monday March 17, 2025
The second episode focused on who's the baby daddy or daddies. Natalie said the first six children were fathered by a man she had been dating - but didn't name him - though her oldest daughter said they found him on Facebook.
Natalie said the octuplets were created by an anonymous donor - so no one seems to know who he is. I have always believed that the eggs used to create the octuplets were fertilized by more than one donor based on the children's appearance. That doctor may or may not have known the men involved and probably thought only one or two eggs would implant. Only DNA tests will ever be able to determined their paternity.
None of the children seem to have a pressing desire to find out more - and connect with - their fathers. I can only assume that the men in question want to remain anonymous because of all the drama surrounding the events.
We got to hear more from the children in this episode, and they basically seem as well adjusted as they can be under the circumstances.
The three older children - now in their 20's - have left home leaving Natalie with 11 children in a three bedroom apartment. In two years, all of the children will have graduated from high school with the exception of her autistic son, Aidan, almost 20.
I often wondered why she didn't put Aidan in a group home with other autistic children, but she claimed it was because she loved him. One also has to consider she received close to $1000 a month from the government for his care - which could've also been a deciding factor to keeping him home.
Natalie also admitted that in today's world she would be considered on the autism spectrum. She further explained that the reason she had this many children is because she was an only child born to a woman who wanted no children. Natalie's fallopian tubes are blocked making her unable to conceive other than with IVF.