Kate Gosselin‘s son Collin Gosselin praised his dad Jon Gosselin’s ex Colleen Conrad for being a mother figure in his life after announcing his upcoming book.
“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, 21, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, June 17, alongside a photo of him and Conrad. “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.”
The former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star continued, “Happy birthday to my wonderful, hardworking, passionate, and I could go on… to my real mom ❤️ I love you so much. Also I had to add a Rascal Flatts song, because we always sing Rascal Flatts songs together.”
Collin added an additional message for Conrad in the post’s comments section.
“The love you feel for a mom you were given is incredible,” he reflected. “But the love you feel for a mom that CHOSE you is something so powerful. I am so fortunate ❤️ @colleen.conrad122 I love you so much 🫶🏼.”
Conrad responded to Collin’s sweet tribute with a touching response.
“This made me cry and yes I would sing it you, Jesse and Jordan! That is my wish!” she wrote. “I’ll always be here for you and you are my son. I love you!”
Conrad came into Collin’s life five years after his parents split in 2009. Kate, 51, and Jon, 49, who wed in 1999, share eight children, including Collin. Jon and Conrad started dating in 2014 but split in 2021. The pair have remained friends since their breakup and Jon was by Conrad’s side amid her breast cancer battle.
While Collin has had a strong bond with Conrad over the years, his connection to Kate has been tumultuous, previously accusing his mom of abuse. Kate, for her part, has claimed that Collin had exhibited “unpredictable and violent behaviors” and allegedly received multiple psychiatric diagnoses over the years. Collin and Kate are currently estranged.
Collin Gosselin thanked the special adults in his life who helped him reach his latest milestone, but his mom, Kate Gosselin, didn’t get a shout-out. The 19-year-old commemorated his recent high school graduation on Thursday, June 22, in a lengthy Instagram post that included a nod to his dad, Jon Gosselin, and his sister Hannah. […]
Earlier on Wednesday, Us Weekly exclusively revealed the cover of Collin’s upcoming book, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, which will hit shelves on October 13.
“My life was always broadcast to millions, but what was actually happening in my life was never shown — in fact, much of it was deliberately kept hidden. For years, other people told my story through headlines, television episodes and public speculation,” Collin told Us. “Now, finally, I’m sharing what was really happening behind the scenes.”
Collin explained that his memoir will talk about his “truth, survival, resilience and finding my voice after years of being silenced.”
