Octuplets' Older Sister Speaks Out for the First Time, Says 'I Had a Lot of Anger' After Siblings Were Born (Exclusive)
Being an older sibling to octuplets is as hectic as it sounds.
Amerah Suleman, Octomom Natalie "Nadya" Suleman's eldest daughter, 22, takes part in the upcoming Lifetime docuseries Confessions of Octomom. Ahead of the March 10 premiere, she opens up to PEOPLE and speaks out for the first time about what life was like with her history-making younger siblings.
"At first I felt shut out," Amerah shares candidly of her unique childhood experience. Back in 2009 she was 6 years old when her mom brought home eight babies, who joined her and five other siblings.
Thinking back, "It was a complete 180 in our lives, so I think we really didn't know how to handle it, especially me, but I think over time I just decided I had to step up and be a second mom figure, and that's what I did."
When she first learned of her mom's pregnancy, "I think I was confused more than anything. And then over time my mom started explaining to me, we had good close friends that started to explain more to me as well," she says. "And I started to understand what is actually going on. It's a lot for a 6-year-old at the time to take in, but I've always been told, you're so mature for your age."
Related: No Meat, No Phones, No Social Media: Inside Octomom Natalie 'Nadya' Suleman's Strict Rules for Teen Octuplets (Exclusive)
Even so, there was a lot to navigate. "The paparazzi and the media, it was confusing, frustrating, upsetting, all of those things combined into one," says Amerah. "But going through it, there was a lot of emotions from all of us."
One of those emotions, she admits, was anger. "Growing up from the ages of birth to 6 years old, right before the eight were born, my mom basically gave us anything we wanted. She definitely did spoil us. She made sure we had everything and anything we wanted or needed," says Amerah.
She continues, "Then when the eight were born, she tried to maintain that normalcy, I guess you could say with us. But slowly down the line, throughout the years, it trickled. We got tighter and tighter and tighter with money. We were penny pinching. And I remember just having a lot of anger."
Related: Octomom Natalie 'Nadya' Suleman Reveals the Truth About Her Finances for the First Time: 'I Did Whatever I Needed to Do' (Exclusive)
Those emotions, says Amerah, stemmed from what she'd lost. "I never meant it in a spoiled brat way, but it was more so, 'What do you mean I can't keep cheering because you can't afford it? What do you mean I can't do my sports or do the things that I've been doing my whole life because we have to save money?'"
To this, she says her mom would always explain, "We're not rich with money, but we are so rich in family and love. So I think it took a toll, but we got so used to it that we were kind of like, this is life and we're just going to roll that way. And as long as we have each other, we're good."
When it comes to what it was like being surrounded by 13 other siblings, "Chaotic is probably the best way to explain it," says Amerah. "There was never a dull moment in the household. We are very loud people to begin with, so when you multiply us, it's pretty insane. I'd come into the restroom and do my homework. It is a lot. But it was so fun."
These days, Amerah, who is an operations manager for a bank, is experiencing life on her own.
"When I first moved out of the home, it was a complete culture shock," she describes. "I went from a chaotic household, always loud, something's always going on to basically complete silence. That was honestly a bit scary for me at first. The first year was the most difficult, emotionally, financially, spiritually to go through that 180 change once again."
Related: Octomom Natalie 'Nadya' Suleman Shares Biggest Regret After Having 14 Kids: 'I Should Have Sued My Fertility Doctor' (Exclusive)
Now, she says of living alone in Orange County, "I could never move back. If I'm being honest. Now that I'm settled and living by myself, I'm right down the street from my family, and that's where I want to be. I don't want to move anywhere far because we have that super close connection."
It's a bond she's hoping to have with her own large family. "I loved the big family dynamic. For myself, I wouldn't want as big as a family as my mom has, don't get me wrong, but I definitely want more than two, three kids."
I Was Octomom premieres March 8, while Confessions of Octomom premieres March 10, both on Lifetime.
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With that, Anita breaks down into hysterical tears. Keep checking back for the latest Beyond The Gates recaps! This story was originally reported by Daytime Confidential on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
