Photo: Al Roker/Instagram
Al Rokeris one proud papa!
“So proud of my boy for his#goldmedalfinishes in the#25yd#butterflyand#50yd#freestyleat the@specialolympicsny#summergamesat@vassarcollegetoday,” Roker captioned the clip, going on to congratulate all the athletes who participated.
In a follow-up post, Rokershared photos of his champion sonbeing showered with kisses from his mom Deborah Roberts, posing with both his parents and other event attendees — and, of course, showing off those well-earned shiny medals.
“Thanks to@nickroker155I’m gonna have a fabulous#fathersdaylooking at his 2#goldmedalsfrom today’s@specialolympicsny#summergames,” he wrote. “A BIG thank you to his coaches at the@92ndstreetyJeff Bonaccorso, Kim Weiss and Laura Scherf.”
In both posts, Roker made sure to clarify that his son gave him permission to share the video and photos.
Al Roker and son Nick.Al Roker/Instagram
Deborah Roberts and son Nick.
Roker and Roberts, 58, recently opened uptoGuidepostsmagazinefor their May cover story about raising a child with special needs.
In the article, Roker explained that their son is “somewhere on the spectrum and maybe obsessive-compulsive” — a condition that has brought a number of challenges for both Nick and his parents.
Despite those difficulties, he said Nick neverlet his developmental delays get inthe way of living his life and doing what he loves, which is an attribute of his son’s that Roker has continuously admired over the years.
“Do I get frustrated with my son sometimes? You bet,” Roker wrote. “But then I remember my dad, how understanding he was. And Deborah reminds me that I have to show my son not onlythat I love him but that I like him as well. More than that, I admire him.”
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After getting Nick the help he needed from speech, behavioral and occupational therapists, the daytime anchor said his son began to flourish into his own person, whose hobbies now include going to church, tae kwon do, swimming, chess and basketball.
“Nick is a hard worker; he’s got a great sense of humor; he’s outgoing and a good swimmer; he’s developing a pretty goodtop-of-the-key basketball shot,” Roker said. “He takes chess lessons a couple times a week, and he does okay. He’s also very affectionate — like his grandfather — and full of love to share.”
For theFather’s Dayholiday on Sunday, the dad of threeshared a snapshot ofhis entire family: wife Roberts, their kids Nick andLeila Ruth, 20, plus Roker’s daughterCourtney, 32.
He captioned the family photo, “As a#dadI couldn’t have a great#fathersdaywithout an amazing#momlike@debrobertsabcto guide my kids@nickroker155@cleilapatraand@ouichefcourtney.”
source: people.com
