FameCrawler

Update & Photo: Octuplets Mom Nadya Suleman Speaks Out

Posted by Sassy Smith

 

Nadya Suleman, the woman who gave birth to octuplets less than two weeks ago, has spoken to NBC News' Ann Curry.  The mom of 14 children, all 7 years-of-age and under, said she's always dreamed of having a "huge" family.  Well, she certainly got her wish!

In an exclusive interview with Ann Curry, which will air on Today and Dateline, Suleman said she longed for "connections" with others.

"That was always a dream of mine, to have a large family, a huge family, and  - I just longed for certain connections and attachments with another person  that I really lacked, I believe, growing up," said Suleman.

Nayda said she felt she was lacking a "feeling of self and identity," called her childhood dysfunctional and felt "powerless." 

She said, " I didn't feel as though, when I was a child, I had much control of my environment. I felt powerless. And that gave me a sense of predictability. Reflecting back on my childhood, I know it wasn't functional. It was pretty, pretty dysfunctional, and whose isn't?"

She tried for seven years to get pregnant with no success and then turned to in vitro fertilization.  And after the first time, she knew she wanted to do it again.  (And apparently again and again).  Suleman said, "Then I just kept going [back]."

Did this woman have children for the wrong reasons?  Is it normal to have a child(ren) to fill a void?  Is that putting pressure on the child - almost as if it's the child's job to make their parent whole?

I still think this woman might need some sort of counselling.  And, the other question still remains - how will she possibly support 14 children?

[Source|Source]

Related Posts:

TLC's Kate Gosselin Talks Octuplets Mom

Mother of Octuplets Mom Nadya Suleman Speaks Out


+ DIGG + STUMBLE

Comments

 

Oscar Madison said:

How come no one is asking the same questions about Brad and Angie and their compulsive child collecting habits? Don't they need counselling too?

How can an unemployed woman in a country with no health coverage afford that much IVF??

February 6, 2009 11:00 AM
 

Sassy Smith said:

Angelina and Brad might like having a lot of kids too - BUT they're both employed (so taxpayers aren't footing the bill for their children - plus they're already rich), they didn't have 8 babies at once, and it doesn't seem like they're popping babies out (or adopting) to fill a void in their lives - so honestly, even if you're not a "Brangelina" fan, you really can't compare their situation to that of Nadya Suleman.

February 6, 2009 11:07 AM
 

HkR said:

That's the big question - affording it in the first place!

February 6, 2009 11:09 AM
 

Loren said:

What a blessing it is to have a large family if that is what you choose. Who are we to tell someone how to live or how many babies to have. Congradulations Nadya on your births. May the Lord Jesus Bless them all with health and strength. The Lord will supply,those babies will be well taken care of.

February 6, 2009 11:19 AM
 

meredith said:

I think she's mentally ill. I think the doctors who allowed this to happen engaged in unethical behavior. The whole situation is a tragedy. I am highly skeptical that a single mother can adequately provide financially, emotionally, and mentally for 14 children.

I feel similarly about "Brangelina" although they clearly can provide financially for their children. And in their defense they do have half as many as N.S. Although I do think they also have an addictive "collector" mentality that borders on mental illness, if it isn't already. I suspect only one member of that duo is the collector and the other is the enabler, but regardless, it's a type of addiction. It's not uncommon for addicts to exchange one addiction for another and Angelina Jolie exhibits many addictive personality traits.

February 6, 2009 12:26 PM
 

interesting said:

I just watched the Today Show clip and I'm betting dollars to donuts that she's obsessed with Angelina Jolie. She's clearly had some cosmetic work done on her lips and her overall look and demeanor is very evocative of A.J.

February 6, 2009 12:55 PM
 

Mary said:

It's pretty rich for this woman to complain about a "dysfunctional" childhood, try to remedy that by having 14 kids she can't afford -- and then dump a great deal of the responsibility for childcare on her own parents.

February 6, 2009 1:10 PM
 

Alice said:

Loren must believe in Santa too.  How does the Lord provide for 14 children who have nothing to eat, no place to live, no healthcare coverage?  Unless you meant to say "the State" rather than the "Lord". Can you sign me up for some of this free stuff from the Lord?

February 6, 2009 1:37 PM
 

Me said:

this woman is sick and definately needs mental help, are we sure she wasn't the one that was in the looney hospital, rather than working there?

I am tired of people taking advantage of the system, NO WONDER WHY CALIFORNIA IS UNDER A BUDGET CRUNCH!

February 6, 2009 2:14 PM
 

lisa said:

i have to echo Mary's sentiments...how dare she publicly state that she had such a terrible childhood as an only child in a "dysfunctional" family!  it's her own parents that she has to thank for the support while she is still in school and having babies left and right!  ...and she is in school for her Masters in Counseling...good grief.

February 6, 2009 4:03 PM
 

Bobbie Wynn said:

Brad and Angelina  have more comman sense.They can afford to adopt a child that needs a family.If this idiot wanted kids she should have had a job or husband,and adopted  homsless child.

Why doesn't the news people give to the homeless and the ones that are ready to lose their homes to me that would help us american people. I say send her and the entire family back to their own home and let them take care of ALL of them instead of us.

Wake up America

February 7, 2009 6:54 PM
 

Melissa said:

Ok Oscar... How can you compare her to Brad & Angie? They do not live at home with mommy and they can afford them. This lady does not have a job. She is having kids to fill a void in her life. Wrong reason. How can she afford these fertility treatments. She is doing this all for $$$$$. She wanted a large amount of $$$ from anyone who wants to interview her. Come on lady!!! BIRTH CONTROL!!

February 9, 2009 3:33 PM
 

JOHNSON said:

May our Lord bless this family!! Children are a blessing form God and he saw fit that this union be born. Thank you Lord for your goodness to Nayda and her beautiful family.

February 9, 2009 3:56 PM
 

Susie said:

Large families are wonderful especially around the holidays.

Just think when her children are grown, she will have plenty of help and she will never be lonely again.  

February 9, 2009 4:24 PM
 

Lori said:

This is not God's work-this is evil.I believe invitro is OK,but these multiple births usually result in life long problems for the children-some of those babies looked pretty limp on TV.Didn't God make this idiot infertile?Who are we to overide this?P.S.I have worked with the poor-"Susie"needs to get a grip-there is nothing fun about the holidays if you are starving.Ofcourse this nut will get a gazillion dollar deal and that's great-taxpayers won't have to support her!I read 3 of her other kids are disabled-probably because of her evil selfishness,not caring about what she is bringing into the world.

February 11, 2009 3:07 AM
 

MichelleNY said:

I saw pictures of this woman's home, it's filthy and disgusting.. How the state will let these 8 more fragile babies go home to that pigpen is beyond me. She, herself is obviously "unhinged" and that is more than kind. I would have to say this is some sort of get rich quick scheme between her and the Dr.. I see he has a financial mess as well on his hands. The only saving grace I see for these children is that they will be placed with a responsible foster family and the mother forced to prove that she is fit. Anyone already on the disabled list, collecting from the State, should be told that she can have as many more children as she desires, however the state will not provide another dime for any of them.. I wonder if she would have had as many then? They did it in Jersey for a while and the Welfare rolls dropped like a stone..

February 11, 2009 7:21 AM
 

Ella said:

What a selfish, dillussional woman to bring into this world 14 innocent children who will probably lack adequate food, shelter, and healthcare as a result of her desire to make up for her "horrible" childhood. I can understand wanting to have children but with that comes a huge responsibility to provide for them in every aspect which she clearly has not demonstrated. What's done is done. These kids are already here and the reality is Nadya will probably get a bunch of money via a book deal, donations, government, etc. This is sadly a good thing for the sake of her poor children (unless she decides to spend it on more IVF's or plastic surgery). On the other hand, it sickens me that this woman can get away with all of this and claim that "God will provide." Whatever. Does she not realize that it's other people who now have to foot the bill for the path she chose?  She should be ashamed and embarassed of herself.

February 12, 2009 10:16 AM
 

jillian said:

This woman Nadya Suleman has lived off the Government most of her adult life as she's been receiving disability for the past 10 years and also receives social security disability (for 3 of her 6 older children), food stamps and Medicaid and Medicare.

This woman is intentionally choosing to be a burden on society.  Why should the public continue to fund her selfish and irresponsible decisions and life style?  

February 13, 2009 3:27 AM
 

Jaclyn said:

You can't blame your bad, irresponsible decisions on anyone else -- it sickens me that she excuses what she's done by saying she had a dysfunctional family. Do you know of any family that considers themselves "normal" or "functional".

I do think this women has an Angelina Jolie obsession and its quite obvious that she's paid money to have herself resemble her. However, Angelina Jolie can not only afford to have her 6 children, she can also afford nannies and the biggest thing: she adopted 3 children from 3rd world countries and made their lives better. Nadya is bringing more babies into the world and giving them potentially bad lives (disabilities, lack of money, food, etc).

I think this woman should have her children taken away and her and the IVF doctor prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. There's nothing wrong with IVF if you can't conceive, even if you don't have a partner -- but there IS a problem with it when you are risking harm to children, you don't have a job or money to support them, and you think the children are supposed to be there FOR YOU. When you have a child, your life becomes about your children, not the other way around. Its disgusting to expect a child to make YOUR LIFE better. You are supposed to make THEIR LIFE better.

A rational adult would not have jeopardized these children, exploited the system. And just where did she find the money for all the plastic surgery and IVF yet she's on food stamps and welfare (though she claimed she'd never received welfare in her life)??? Disgusting.

February 14, 2009 8:15 PM
 

Sean said:

I think that all you people are so judgemental towards Nadya, maybe you should occupy yourselves with something a little more meaningful and start looking at yourself with that all so critical looking glass

February 19, 2009 4:06 PM
 

Shay said:

I can not believe some of you are congratulating this woman on her children and also telling people that they are being judgmental!!!! We have every right in this world to be judgmental about this situation since we are paying for this. Do you even know how much the estimate is on the cost of these kids....and she's not even paying for it. WE ARE!!! Her house is in foreclosure and she is out looking for a 1.5 million dollar home. She's calling talk show hosts and asking them to pay her +2 million for her story. Now tell me she didn't have this planned all along. I am all for people having the size family they want (even though we are already way over populated and our earth can only handle so much)but I am only ok with it and nonjudgmental when they can afford it and can care for their children financially, physically, and emotionally. She can do none of these things and now we all pay....especially those kids.

February 20, 2009 3:30 PM
 

Heath said:

I agree!! I thought Susie's comment was hilarious because correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't go birthing children just so you can have help with your chores. You can call a handy man or a maid if you need help. And people like Sean who shame us for being judgmental and critical....those are the people who are on welfare and love to take everything and anything free they can. There's a difference in being on welfare because you have a crisis and need short term help or are permanently disabled (and not lying about it) versus those who are on it for life because they are lazy. I do not judge those whose actions do not adversely affect others in this world, but this one does and it then becomes our right. You would judge someone if they came to your house and stole something from you wouldn't you? And you would judge someone who was harming you or others right? That's different than judging someone who lives a different life from you but is not adversely affecting your life. Brush up on the differences because I didn't ask to pay for this lady's choices nor did those poor children.

February 20, 2009 3:45 PM
 

Christina said:

I really hope the hospital keeping the babies and social services will intervene and make sure these babies get adopted into loving homes.  I also hope social services REMOVES the other 6 kids until Nadya receives much needed psychiatric help.  There is NO WAY IN HELL these kids are getting the appropriate care.  Nadya is an attention whore and obsessed with getting media coverage, cash and seeing how long she can defraud the welfare system.  It is so sad that such a deranged, mentally ill woman is allowed to become pregnant.  The fertility doctor obviously took advantage of her obsession to have children.  He should loose his license and be forced to pay for children he created.  Nadya should get psychiatric help while sitting in jail.  SHE IS NOT RAISING THOSE KIDS!! HER MOTHER AND FATHER RAISE THEM WHILE SHE IS OUT LOOKING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF MEDIA ATTENTION AND MONEY SHE CAN GET!  SHE IS WORTHLESS!!!

February 27, 2009 10:25 PM
 

nissan smith said:

Wow! I love a big family. I come from a big family too.

My parents raised us all seven kids,one at a time two

years apart.

For Nadya, congratulations! you look great after delivering

all those eight little babies in one time? you really need

some financial help, where are those doctors, they need to help you too financially they're the one who done this to you!!! kids are just a blessing. Stop blaming Nadia.

March 7, 2009 10:09 PM

About Sassy Smith

I am a photographer and writer, who has a high-falutin' office (aka dining room table), four kids, one husband (I was dating Brad Pitt, but he was boring) and I live in Calgary. I often think I'm famous, but nope, that's just the people I write about.

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