On his 22nd birthday, Collin Gosselin posted a heartfelt Instagram message to his father Jon Gosselin’s ex, Colleen Conrad, calling her his “real mom.” The tribute came the same day he announced his memoir release for October 13, 2026.
Collin Gosselin knew exactly what he wanted to say—and he made sure everyone saw it in the open.
On Wednesday. June 17. the 22-year-old son of Jon and Kate Gosselin took to Instagram to post a birthday message to Colleen Conrad. the woman his dad dated from 2014 to 2021. He didn’t frame it as a casual shout-out. He made it personal. calling her his “real mom” and thanking her for stepping in at the toughest part of his life.
“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. He added that she “is the strongest woman I know,” and said she “stepped in at the toughest part of my life and CHOSE to be a mother to me.”
“Happy birthday to my wonderful, hardworking, passionate, and I could go on… to my real mom,” he continued. “I love you so much. Also I had to add a Rascal Flatts song, because we always sing Rascal Flatts songs together.”
The timing landed with extra weight because that same day Collin announced his forthcoming memoir. In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood. The book release date was set for October 13, 2026. The cover features a paparazzi photo of Kate with her hand over a young Collin’s mouth.
In his Instagram post announcing the memoir, Collin wrote, “For a long time, I wasn’t sure I’d ever tell this story.” He said that as he was growing up, “millions of people watched my life on television” and that people “felt like they knew me.” But he insisted there was “so much they never saw.”
He added that “for years, I kept those experiences to myself,” saying some of it was because he was “afraid,” some because he “didn’t think anyone would believe me,” and some because “I just wasn’t ready.”
Writing the book, he said, “forced me to revisit some of the hardest moments of my life,” while also giving him “something I’ve been searching for for a long time: my voice.” He ended by stating, “This isn’t the story people think they know. It’s the story I’ve lived.”
Collin and Colleen’s connection sits against a complicated family timeline. Jon. 49. and Colleen grew up together in Pennsylvania. but they didn’t begin dating until 2014—about five years after Jon’s divorce was finalized from Kate. 51. In August 2021, Jon announced that he and Colleen had split, roughly four months after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Jon later said they remained good friends and that he was helping her through her cancer treatments.
Collin’s public message also arrives after earlier attention and controversy involving Kate. In 2023, Colleen publicly supported Collin after Kate spoke about his alleged behavioral issues.
The memoir and the tribute also sit within the broader custody and care history of Collin and his siblings. Collin is one of Jon and Kate’s 22-year-old sextuplets—Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Leah, and Joel—and they are also parents to 25-year-old twins Mady and Cara.
After their divorce in 2009, Kate was awarded custody of all eight children. In 2016. she sent Collin to a behavioral health institution following what she described as “unpredictable and violent behavior.” After leaving the institution. Collin moved in with Jon. Following a lengthy court battle, Jon was awarded custody of Collin in 2018.
Last year, Kate was hospitalized for nearly three months following a “life-altering” injury.
In Collin’s Instagram post. the most striking element wasn’t just who he thanked—it was how clearly he positioned Colleen Conrad’s role in his life. On a day that also carried the announcement of a new memoir, he didn’t write about distance or headlines. He wrote about someone who “chose to be a mother,” and made sure her place in his story was unmistakable.
Collin Gosselin Colleen Conrad Jon Gosselin Kate Gosselin memoir In the Shadow of Eight Instagram birthday tribute Rascal Flatts custody battle breast cancer
So he’s calling her “real mom” like that’s just supposed to replace Kate… okay.
Not gonna lie the “Rascal Flatts song” part is kinda sweet. But the whole Duggar-ish family drama stuff is exhausting. Like does anyone else just want peace.
Wait so is Colleen Conrad the same lady from the Jon and Kate show? I thought Kate was always the mom. If his memoir comes out later maybe we’ll finally find out what really happened, but also it’s weird he posted it on her birthday AND book day like it’s planned.
Rascal Flatts + “real mom” is a lot but I get it. Still the cover with Kate covering his mouth?? That sounds like internet fanfic levels of petty, but maybe that’s why he wrote the book. October 13, 2026 seems so far out tho, like why tease it now, June 17? People are gonna spin it either way.