Getting real. “Octomom” Nadya Suleman uploaded a video about her son Aidan’s developmental disorder on Tuesday, August 20. “This is my adolescent infant Aidan. He is 14 years old, going on one in his head,” she captioned a video of her teenager playing in the sandbox via Instagram. “Aidan is severely autistic and total care. He requires complete assistance in meeting all needs in activities of daily living. Aidan is non-verbal, requires feeding, changing (he is not potty trained), bathing and one to one supervision, as he had no safety awareness and would walk aimlessly into traffic.”

However, the 44-year-old wanted to be clear that she is dedicated to raising her son, no matter what. “I, his mother am, and always have been, his ONLY care provider,” she said. “This ‘job’ is my life (other than caring for 13 other children singlehandedly). My children are my LIFE. In addition, I’ve struggled with permanent disabilities for over 10 years (all discs in my lumbar spine are ruptured which press on nerve roots causing bilateral sciatica, irreparable sacral damage and peripheral neuropathy). Despite my broken back and relentless pain, I continue to physically care for my son and will never give up on him.”

Nadya continued to detail her life with Aidan and what he is up to. “Aidan has been off two months for summer and attends a special needs school during the year,” she said. “I love him with all my heart and will care for him until I die. This morning after dropping off 11 of my other children for their first day of school, I took Aidan to the park, feeding and following him until he grew tired. He engaged in a meltdown (dropped to [the] ground, threw water bottles, took off shoes and propelled those at my head). As soon as we arrived home, I bathed, changed and fed exhausted Aidan and held him until he fell asleep.”

The brunette beauty explained that Instagram doesn’t always show the true story as to what is going on in people’s lives. “Aidan’s circadian rhythm is discombobulated as he tends to wake from 2 a.m., staying up ‘till after 5 a.m., singing and jumping in his homemade crib next to my bed. Why did I choose to share this aspect of my life on the same day as my other kids’ first day of school as opposed to posting an adorable picture? For a couple reasons. First, to describe the details of my REAL life, not a ‘perfect’ depiction of what I want people to perceive my life to be. Second, to provide a contextualization for both my supportive followers and the condemnatory critics as to what truly matters in my life: my family.”

Nadya ended the lengthy message on a positive note, writing, “Forgive me kind, supportive followers for failing to post frequently. I am a bit busy. #AutismMom #ILoveMyFamily.”

Of course, many of her fans couldn’t help but praise the mom of 14 for being so candid with her followers. One person wrote, “I love everything about you. You are doing a great job being a mom to your children,” while another echoed, “You are a supermom. Truly amazing.” A third person chimed in, writing, “Thank you for sharing this. As a mom of an autism son, I really love you for sharing this.”

Nadya Suleman Wearing a Black Tank Top
Mediapunch/Shutterstock

In 2009, Nadya gave birth to octuplets — six boys and two girls — conceived via in vitro fertilization. She already had six other children.

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