Collin Gosselin called Jon Gosselin’s ex-girlfriend Colleen Conrad his “real mom” in a birthday tribute posted the same day he announced a memoir about his childhood.
The 22-year-old former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star shared the message on Wednesday, June 17, alongside an undated photo of himself with Conrad. People reported that the post came hours after Collin announced In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, which is scheduled for release on Oct. 13.
“I didn’t plan this at all, but coincidentally on the day of the official announcement of my book, it is Colleen’s birthday,” Collin wrote. “She is the strongest woman I know, who stepped in at the toughest part of my life and CHOSE to be a mother to me.”
He ended the message by calling Conrad his “wonderful, hardworking, passionate” real mom and telling her he loved her.
Collin Praised Conrad for Choosing Him
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Conrad dated Jon from 2014 to 2021. People reported that the former couple split after health struggles, including Conrad’s breast cancer diagnosis, but remained friends after the breakup.
Collin’s relationship with Conrad has been public before. In 2023, he thanked her in a high school graduation post, writing that she had rooted for him “day in and day out” and calling her one of the people he wanted by his side.
Conrad also publicly defended him that same year after Kate Gosselin and Collin’s sister Mady spoke about his alleged behavioral issues. Jon’s representative later told People that Jon appreciated Conrad’s role in helping co-parent Collin.
The Tribute Came After His Memoir Announcement
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Earlier on June 17, Collin announced that his memoir will be published on Oct. 13. In his Instagram post, he said writing the book made him revisit some of the hardest moments of his life but also helped him find his voice.
“This isn’t the story people think they know. It’s the story I’ve lived,” Collin wrote, according to People.
The title points directly at the family image viewers knew from Jon & Kate Plus 8, the TLC series that made Jon, Kate and their eight children famous. People reported that the memoir cover appears to feature a childhood photo of Collin with Kate during the show’s peak years.
Conrad Has Supported Collin Before
Jon and Kate divorced in 2009, and Kate was awarded custody of their children. In 2016, she sent Collin to a behavioral health institution, later citing what she described as “unpredictable and violent behavior,” according to People.
Collin later left the program and moved in with Jon, who was awarded custody of him. Collin and his sister Hannah graduated from high school in 2023.
The family conflict has played out publicly for years. Kate and Mady have spoken about Collin’s alleged behavior, while Jon and Collin have denied that he was violent. Conrad’s 2023 post defended him during that public back-and-forth, saying she felt compelled to speak because he was at Marine boot camp and could not respond himself.
The Book Is Coming This Fall
Collin is one of Jon and Kate’s sextuplets, along with Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Leah and Joel. The former couple also share twins Mady and Cara.
His memoir is set to arrive after years of interviews and social media posts about his estrangement from parts of the family. In the book announcement, Collin said he had kept parts of his story private for years because he was afraid, did not think people would believe him and was not ready to tell it.
In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood is scheduled for release on Oct. 13 and is available for preorder.