"Like most fathers, I'd dreamt of doing all sorts of things with my son. I had so many plans, but when I was told my son was autistic, those plans seemed more like a fantasy. Well, eight years after that dreadful diagnosis, I am writing this book to let every father know that your plans for you and your son can still be a reality. It's just the path that takes you there that has to be altered."
Autism affects four times as many boys as it does girls. For their fathers, expectations and hopes are drastically changed—NFL star Rodney Peete's were when his son R.J. was diagnosed at the age of three. After a period of anger and denial, an all-too-common reaction among fathers, Rodney joined his wife, Holly, in her efforts to help their son. With determination, love, and understanding, the family worked with R.J. to help him once again engage with the world. Eight challenging years later, R.J. has gone from the son one doctor warned would never say, "I love you," to a thriving, vibrant boy who scored his first soccer goal while his dad cheered from the sidelines.
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"What a great look into the Autism Dad's psyche. A good read for anyone clueless about what it is like to hear the words "your child has Autism.""
— Danielle (5 out of 5 stars)
Rodney Peete writes a compelling book that will help fathers emotionally deal with the challenge of raising a child with autism.
— Alonzo Mourning, former NBA player" Although I found Rodney Peete's point of view interesting, I felt the book was not well written. This would be a good read for dads. "
— Helen, 4/21/2013" I read this one as a book on tape to and from work... learned a lot about how fathers handle autism "
— Gail, 10/27/2011" Very basic writing. Very quick read. It was okay. "
— Amanda, 3/29/2011" Good book, I wish i had this 15 years ago. There was some good insight to how a couple deals with autism. "
— carl, 1/18/2011Rodney Peete is a former quarterback from the University of Southern California who played in the NFL for sixteen years. After his retirement in 2004, Peete became one of the hosts of the Fox Sports Net talk show The Best Damn Sports Show Period alongside John Salley, Chris Rose, and Rob Dibble. In 1997 Peete and his wife, Holly Robinson, started the HollyRod Foundation, which seeks to provide financial, physical and emotional support to Parkinson’s patients and their families/caregivers. The couple has twins, Rodney Jr. (R. J.) and Ryan, and sons Robinson and Roman.
Danelle Morton is a freelance writer with more than thirty years of experience in investigative journalism, memoirs and profiles, and nonfiction collaboration. She has coauthored books with Hollywood stars, rocket scientists, sports figures, and political leaders, including The Healing Power of Pets, with Marty Becker, and Are You Hungry, Dear? with Doris Roberts. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, San Francisco Magazine, and People magazine, and she has served as foreign correspondent, state capital bureau chief, columnist, and associate bureau chief of People’s Los Angeles bureau. She lives in San Francisco.
Richard Allen is an accomplished and respected theatrical actor whose work includes Ragtime and PBS’ Great Performances: Play On! His voice can be heard on numerous television and radio productions, as well as the animated series Jumanji. Allen is also the winner of seven AudioFile Earphones Awards.