Collin Gosselin's Bond With Dad's Ex, Colleen Conrad; Why Kate's Estranged Son Calls Her 'Real Mom'?
Collin Gosselin praised Colleen Conrad, his father Jon's former partner, as the woman who 'chose' to be his mother when his own mom, Kate Gosselin, allegedly abandoned him.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleCollin Gosselin's relationship with his mother, Kate Gosselin, has been marked by years of estrangement and unresolved family tensions. The 22-year-old says he last saw his mother about a decade ago, when she sent him to a behavioral facility.
Amid their fractured relationship, Collin has found a maternal figure in someone outside his immediate family. That woman is Colleen Conrad, the former partner of Collin's dad, Jon Gosselin, whom he affectionately calls his "real mom" because she "chose" to be a mother to him.
With the release of Collin's tell-all memoir, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, his bond with Conrad has drawn attention, shedding light on a relationship that has outlived Colleen's separation from Jon.
Why Collin Gosselin calls Colleen Conrad his 'real mom'
On June 17, 2026, Collin celebrated Conrad's birthday with a touching Instagram post featuring a photo of the pair. The tribute coincided with the official announcement of his memoir, in which he revisits his childhood growing up in the spotlight on Jon & Kate Plus 8. Collin wrote:
"I didn't plan this at all, but coincidentally, on the day of the official announcement of my book, it is Colleen's birthday."
The former Jon & Kate Plus Eight star described Conrad as "the strongest woman I know" and praised her for stepping into his life during what he called his toughest period. The 22-year-old ended the tribute by wishing his "wonderful, hardworking, passionate" mother figure a happy birthday, calling her "my real mom" and telling her how much he loved her. He wrote:
"The love you feel for a mom you were given is incredible. 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."
Colleen warmly responded to the post, writing, "I'll always be here for you, and you are my son. I love you!"
Collin and Colleen formed a close relationship while the latter was dating Jon Gosselin from 2014 to 2021. Although the couple eventually separated, Conrad remained an important presence in the 22-year-old's life.
Who is Colleen Conrad?
Unlike the Gosselins, whose family life has largely played out in the public eye, Colleen Conrad prefers to keep her personal life private. She is a nurse practitioner and a cancer survivor who has known Jon Gosselin for years, having grown up with him in Pennsylvania.
The two remained friends for years before beginning a romantic relationship in 2014, five years after Jon's divorce from Kate was finalized. During their nearly seven-year relationship, Conrad also became a mother figure to Jon's children, Collin and Hannah. The couple eventually split in 2021. At the time, Conrad was four months into her breast cancer diagnosis, and Jon reportedly stood by her throughout her treatment. Jon later told The Sun:
"I still love and care for Colleen, but we've both determined that it's the natural end."
Colleen has occasionally spoken publicly about Collin, particularly when his relationship with Kate became the subject of renewed attention. In September 2023, Conrad marked National Son's Day with a tribute to Collin, saying she had always considered him her son and was proud of him.
Colleen Conrad defended Collin Gosselin amid his rift with Kate Gosselin
Colleen has publicly defended Collin against Kate's claims about his alleged behavior and mental health. In August 2023, after Kate alleged that Collin displayed violent behavior toward family members and had multiple psychiatric diagnoses, Conrad pushed back against what she described as derogatory statements, drawing on her own experience of living with Collin. She wrote at the time:
"After Jon and I separated, and Jon moved out, Collin lived with me until he turned 18, so I saw him every day. He thrived and was always kind and respectful. He never talked back to me. He was never violent and is far from being considered dangerous. He is there for me when I need him, even bringing me white roses every time he visits."
Collin's relationship with Kate has been strained for years. After Jon and Kate's divorce was finalized in 2009, their eight children largely remained in Kate's care. In 2016, Collin was placed in a behavioral health institution following what Kate described as unpredictable and violent behavior. He later moved in with Jon, who was awarded custody of him and his sister, Hannah.
While Collin's relationship with Kate remains strained, he has publicly celebrated Colleen, the woman who supported him during a challenging chapter of his life.
Image courtesy: Collin Gosselin/Instagram, Colleen Conrad/Instagram, X
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