The 49-year-old woman known as ‘Octomom’ has explained why she takes a severe approach to rearing her 14 children. Natalie ‘Nadia’ Suleman had six children before producing octuplets using in vitro fertilization in 2009.
“With Elijah, then Amera, then Josh, Aidan, and the twins, I was still in school,” she recalls of her time at Cal State Fullerton after giving birth to six children, all born through IVF.
“I reared them on campus, took 18 classes, and cared for all of my children. I was not unemployed and receiving social benefits, as the media depicts me. It wasn’t like that.”
When discussing raising her older children, Suleman stated, “Unfortunately, I was not able to fully apply the knowledge I acquired in school.”
The woman was educated in psychology.
“The children grew raised in a permissive environment, which is not right. You simply cannot do it. You must follow a specific system when raising them, be consistent, and instill discipline. And there has to be unconditional love and acceptance,” she explained to People.
I only did the latter. I should not have spoiled them. I learned the hard way. But I managed to raise them to be kind and humble,” she said.
However, with her younger children, who have recently turned 16, Suleman has discovered a method that combines unconditional love, a positive attitude, and discipline.
“She’s really severe,” 16-year-old Naria explained, “and she teaches us a lot. We don’t have phones—only one for communication.”
“They’re not allowed to have relationships until they’re 18,” he stated.
The most crucial rule, however, is to avoid using social media.
“It is toxic. I do not even want to go there. I’m merely doing it to exchange information. I cannot imagine my children spending time there. “I believe that access to social media should be limited to 18 years,” says the mother of several children.
“I raise my children so that they don’t focus on themselves,” she tells me. “The world has evolved, but I have more traditional views. I try to instill in my children the importance of service and caring for others. This promotes inner delight and contentment. No insult to other children, but they tend to be a little more selfish and self-righteous.”
Suleman and 11 of her 14 children share a three-bedroom apartment in Orange County, California. They spend their free time playing games, going to the gym, and having family movie evenings.
