Colleen Conrad Tells Collin Gosselin 'I Will Always Be Your Mom'

Colleen Conrad, who was in a relationship with Jon Gosselin from 2014 to 2021, has offered a public message of support to his son Collin Gosselin, telling him she will "always be your mom" following the release of his memoir and his claims against mother Kate Gosselin.

Collin's book, "In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood," debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times best seller list for non-fiction. Conrad marked the milestone with a shout-out on Instagram, writing, "Who would have imagined that all those years ago? I am so incredibly proud of you!"

In the same post, Conrad reflected on the circumstances Collin faced before she entered his life, writing, "When you came into my life, you had already been through more than any child should ever have to experience."

Collin's memoir includes a tribute to Conrad, describing her role in his life: "You stepped into my life as the mother I needed most. ... Strong men need strong mothers, and I was so fortunate to have mine."

Conrad responded to those words in her post, writing, "Collin, those words mean more to me than you'll ever know," and adding, "No matter how old you get or where life takes you, I will always be your mom. I will always love you and cheer you on."

Collin replied in the comments, writing, "I love you. I loved that you say you needed me too." He continued, "Sometimes all we need is to know our mom believes in us and it gives us enough faith in ourselves."

The exchange follows Collin's accusations that Kate Gosselin subjected him to horrific abuse during his childhood, allegations she has dismissed as a product of his mental illness. Jon Gosselin has said he wants his ex-wife to face criminal charges, telling Entertainment Tonight, "She needs to stop. He is not mentally ill. I would definitely have grounds to sue Kate for defamation and libel. I don't even think it's suing. I think it's just criminal charges. So, that's up to the state."

The public support from Conrad adds a personal dimension to a story that has drawn national attention since the memoir's release. For readers following the Gosselin family's long history in the public eye, the Instagram exchange underscores the lasting bonds formed outside the family's original reality-television narrative.