Octomom Brings 9 of Her Kids Along for Chaotic 'TODAY' Visit (Video)

By Kiki Von Glinow Posted Jul 8th 2011 10:45AM

It was more like an inside look at sheep herding than a sit down interview when Octomom, Nadya Suleman, brought her 2-year-old octuplets and nine-year-old daughter, Amara, to the 'Today' show as Ann Curry attempted to wrangle a few children and some answers from the tabloid sensation mother.

Falling over set lights, drawing on desks or hiding behind stage walls, the talk show host and Suleman had their hands full to say the least. At one point, one little one even fell into a stage light as a shocked and concerned Curry began yelling, "No, no, no" before jumping up to help the two-year-old. Later two of the children sprinted from the set before both Curry (who was having difficulty carrying her question cards and a squirming toddler) and Suleman came back to finally get down to business regarding the Octomom's financial situation.

It takes nearly $15,000 per month to support Suleman's 14 children and until recently, the Octomom claims that she was not paid for her appearances or interviews. Hoping to change that, she recently hired a manager to help land paying "odd jobs," including celebrity boxing matches, to contribute to her monthly bills. But Suleman's 'celebrity' gigs come in addition to the income she earns for being a personal trainer -- a job she believes helps her deal with the guilt from involuntarily putting her young children's lives under a microscope.

"That's been my way to self-medicate, through exercise," Suleman explained as a way to cope with the death threats she has received and the panic attacks they cause.

Before Suleman landed management representation and her fitness gig, she was forced to lower her standard when it came to making quick cash to support her 14 children as a single mom. Although the Octomom, who bears a striking and controversial resemblance to actress Angelina Jolie, says she cannot linger on regret, she does admit to having made poor choices in her past, including signing on for a fetish video in which she sports bondage gear and cracks a whip on a man wearing a diaper.

"I personally cannot waste my energy fixating on the past and my past choices, regardless if they were good or bad choices ... Learn to grow as a result of your choices, own and accept the responsibility of your choices and look forward because if you look back, what are you going to do, stab me? You're just going to stab me forever and grow old."

But her past gigs, although some may lack a moral code, have helped Suleman keep her head above tough financial waters or worse -- according to Suleman -- going on public aid.

"I've never in my life been on [public assistance], and I never would," she told Curry. "I would feel like a failure as a mother and as a human being."

We get that Suleman refuses to go on public assistance but what about some private aid? Although she told Curry that the reason why her little ones were so rambunctious during the live interview was that they only had two hours of sleep during their travels to the New York interview, we can't imagine how Suleman is able to take care of 14 children on a daily basis.

"I'm so happy I don't have nannies," she said. "It's harder, but I feel so much stronger. I forced myself to pull out strengths I never knew I possessed."

The Octomom, who finds time to climb 40 miles/week on a stair climbing machine, starts her day at 5:30 AM and is in the middle of potty training her eight two-and-a-half-year-olds. But Suleman believes it is precisely because of her single status that she gets such a bad rap as a mom.

"If I had a mate, that would have defused a lot of the animosity," she said. "I'm the ultimate societal scapegoat, I believe."

That "animosity" is exactly where Suleman believes a recent In Touch magazine article that claimed she said, "I hate babies. They disgust me. My older kids are animals. I can't discipline them," came from. Suleman divulged that she is considering suing the magazine for slander.

"I think they should retract it because it's all slander," she said. "I love my children. I would do anything for my kids."

With eight toddlers to potty train, we have a feeling that Suleman's lawsuit will be getting more than a little cool on the back burner.

Tags: nadya suleman

Comments

(398)

Friday 08 July

By sue

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But then again, they did not have 8 toddlers at one time, either.

By pdq

The Duggars are a two-parent family and the children have staggered ages and take care of one another. Before birth control, most families were large by choice to help around the farm, home, etc. Many children died early. Medical care was more primitive. I'm talking about the 20th century as well as earlier.

By retirednavywife1

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Mrs. Duggar has a husband to help out. I think if Nadia would have a christian background it might be a bit easier. I didn't see the interview because I no longer watch the Today Show so i don't know exactly what happened except what is written. They sound like normal kids to me.

By Henry

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Perhaps she can have Casey Anthony baby-sit for her?! Then, one by one, slowly, but surely, she will be down to a managable amount of kids?!

Saturday 09 July

By tim felker

You are one sick puppy and I hope you get some help before you do something as stupid as the things you say.

By JACKIE

WHAT A PLAN!

By Krismar

LOL!!!!!

By JACQUELINE

BETTER GO FOR A BIGGER WORD THAN CHAOS.....I WATCHED, THEY CAME, THEY SAW, THEY CONQUERED. WOW, IT WAS LIKE WATCHING A FRANTIC ANTHILL.....EVERYONE FROM HOSTS TO CAMERA PEOPLE HAD TO HELP CORRAL THE CRITTERS. NO WONDER HOUSE HAS MARKINGS ON EVERYTHING, HOLES IN WALLS FROM THEM RIDING INTO THEM....IT'S A WONDER THE NIM NAH MOTHER ISN'T BESERK.

By sherryjvp

who would expect 2 year olds to act any differently than this? Seems like she is doing fine to me.

By budrfly

LOL...that is good!

By melinda

State requires 1 teacher per 8 kids that age in daycare setting-she has one too many (plus the daycare teacher focuses only on the children as her job), this lady has chores to do, and a job? How does she afford daycare for all of them. I don't see how those kids can be safe in that house. How does she make 15,000 per month + as a personal trainer...what does she do with the kids when she is "training"? She has to be getting government help, what a liar. My husband and I both have decent careers and can hardly afford our ONE 2 year old with daycare and diapers.

Who keeps getting these crazy women pregnant....be it man or doctor.....both need to stop!

By rob

the women keep getting themselves pregnant, let's not blame the guys here... Ever hear of the birth control pill?

Why are these guys attracted to crazies though, it's sad. And if you are a guy not wanting kids you should find out if she is on birth control or be more careful, that goes for anybody. They shold all be safer.

By Thamra

Again WHY ?

By Friday

They caused chaos on the set because, like their mother, they lack discipline. They were conceived so she could cash in on fame (attention) and wealth.

By PJ

Those poor kids. She sounds as crazy as ever. It is difficult to understand her. She talks so fast and has some sort of dialect. Nevertheless, she is still a rather awful person to see on TV.

By ronnie

i don't especially agree with anything about octomom but hey, don't ya think if the network invited nadia to be on with all those kids, they should have provided a few extra hands to keep them safe on the set?

By linjack39

I don't believe for one minute that unemployed Octomom does not receive public funds. 14 children, a mortgage, property & school taxes on her house, house maintenance, food, clothing, medical care, etc. How can she possibly earn enough money on her own? Low-paying "celebrity" gigs, part-time personal trainer and odd jobs! Give me a break! Who is paying for the medical, dental, psychological & vision care, etc., plus food for those 14 children? California taxpayers should be looking into this.

By Wanda

why didnt Ann stop this interview....any "normal" 2 yo could not stay through an adult conversation....she may not done things right by having too many children but at least they look healthy and appear to be "normal" 2 yo....

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