Cover image for Love that boy : what two presidents, eight road trips, and my son taught me about a parent's expectations
Love that boy : what two presidents, eight road trips, and my son taught me about a parent's expectations
Title:
Love that boy : what two presidents, eight road trips, and my son taught me about a parent's expectations
Author:
Fournier, Ron, 1963- , author.
Publication Information:
New York : Harmony Books, [2016]

©2016
Physical Description:
x, 228 pages ; 22 cm
Summary:
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 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 journey to acceptance around the latest research on childhood development and stories of other loving-but-struggling parents.
General Note:
"This work is adapted from "First, Family, " as originally published in National Journal magazine on December 1, 2012."--Title page verso.
Language:
English
Contents:
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.
ISBN:
9780804140485
Format :
Book