Inside Collin Gosselin's Bond With Dad Jon's Ex Colleen Conrad: 'Real Mom'

Collin Gosselin is making it clear that family doesn't always have to be blood.

As Jon Gosselin and Kate Gosselin's son prepares to release his personal memoir, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, in October 2026, Collin is celebrating the special relationship he has with Colleen 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," Collin wrote of his dad's ex-girlfriend via Instagram in June 2026. "Happy birthday to my wonderful, hardworking, passionate, and I could go on… to my real mom ❤️ I love you so much."

Conrad replied in the comments, "I'll always be here for you and you are my son. I love you!"

Us Weekly is taking a closer look at Collin and Conrad's close bond over the years. Keep reading to learn more about their special relationship:

Who Is Colleen Conrad?

In September 2023, Conrad celebrated National Son's Day by sharing a rare Instagram post about Collin.

"To a very special person who came into my life and I have always considered him as a son!!" she wrote at the time with several photos of the pair over the years. "I love you and I am proud of you Collin Gosselin!!"

In a separate post, Conrad celebrated Collin's book cover by writing, "His story is finally becoming a reality and I am so incredibly proud of him for all the hard work that he put into this and having the courage to write it."

What Has Collin Gosselin Said About Kate Gosselin?

After appearing alongside his seven siblings on TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8 for much of his toddlerhood through adolescence, Collin became estranged from his mom and chose to live with his dad. (Jon and Kate's divorce was finalized in 2009.)

Collin later began speaking out about the alleged abuse he experienced from his mother. (Kate's lawyer shared in a 2024 interview with Fox News that she would not be responding to the allegations.)

In his upcoming book, Collin hopes to share his truth and experience growing up in the spotlight.

"This book is about truth, survival, resilience and finding my voice after years of being silenced," he told Us. "If my story helps even one person feel less alone or gives them the courage to tell their own, then every difficult page was worth writing."

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 11:33 AM.