Portland Public Library

Love that boy, what two presidents, eight road trips, and my son taught me about a parent's expectations, Ron Fournier

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 217-219) and index

individual biography

index present

non fiction

Love that boy

bibliography

928136758

Ron Fournier

what two presidents, eight road trips, and my son taught me about a parent's expectations

"Tyler and I inch toward the Green Room, in line with blow-dried TV anchors and stuffy columnists. He's practicing his handshake and hello: "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. President. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. President. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. President." When the couple in front of us steps forward for their picture, my teenager with sky-blue eyes and a soft heart looks up at me and says, "I hope I don't let you down, Dad." What kind of father raises a son to worry about embarrassing his dad? I want to tell Tyler not to worry, that he'd never let me down. That there's nothing wrong with being different. That I actually am proud of what makes him special. But we are next in line to meet the president of the United States in a room filled with fellow strivers, and all I can think about is the real possibility that Tyler might embarrass himself. Or, God forbid, me. LOVE THAT BOY is a uniquely personal story about the causes and costs of outsized parental expectations. What we want for our children--popularity, normalcy, achievement, genius--and what they truly need--grit, empathy, character--are explored by National Journal's Ron Fournier, who weaves his extraordinary journey to acceptance around the latest research on childhood development and stories of other loving-but-struggling parents"--, Provided by publisher"Ron Fournier, bestselling author, editor of the National Journal, and former head of the Associated Press's Washington Bureau, writes movingly of the outsized and crushing expectations that come from parents and with parenting today, through the lens of his relationship with his son, Tyler, who has mild Asperger's"--, Provided by publisher

Part One. What We Want -- 1 Normal -- 2 Genius -- 3 Popular -- 4 Superstar -- 5 Successful -- 6 Happy -- Part Two. What We Need -- 7 Grit (Bill Clinton) -- 8 Empathy (George W. Bush) -- 9 Acceptance -- History Lessons