Collin has announced the release of his memoir, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, scheduled for October 13.
In a reflective post, he shared, “For a long time, I wasn’t sure I’d ever tell this story. Growing up, millions of people watched my life on television. People felt like they knew me. They knew my family. They watched me grow up. But there was so much they never saw. For years, I kept those experiences to myself. Some because I was afraid. Some because I didn’t think anyone would believe me. And some because I just wasn’t ready.”
Collin explained that writing the book compelled him to revisit some of the most challenging moments of his life. However, he also found it gave him “something [he has] been searching for for a long time: [his] voice.”
He further stated, “This isn’t the story people think they know. It’s the story I’ve lived.”
In response to a comment on a video Kate posted on June 29, where a follower expressed support by writing, “Sending you love, Kate! You know your truth and what a great mom you are,” Kate replied, “I’m fine. Nothing surprises me anymore in that department.”
In another comment thread, a person shared their experience, “As a Mom who has been constantly disparaged and lied about by her adult child with a skewed version of their childhood (fueled by their narcissistic parent), my heart is with you…Even though we know the truth and who we are, the hurt sneaks in once in a while.”
Kate reiterated her perspective on Collin’s mental health, responding, “Thank you! YOU understand! Sadly, only parents who have a mentally ill child understand! It’s so tough, and I’m learning that ppl have NO ability to understand unless they’ve been through it themselves.”
