Millions of Americans know Al Roker as the friendly meteorologist on the “Today” show. What many people don’t know about him, however, is that he is the father to a 17 year-old son named Nicholas, who has special needs.
In a new interview, Al opened up about what it’s like raising his teenage son with his wife Deborah Roberts, explaining that Nick is “somewhere on the spectrum and maybe obsessive-compulsive.” Though Nick’s condition presents a number of challenges to him and his family, Al said that it has never gotten in the way of them forming an incredible bond.
“Do I get frustrated with my son sometimes? You bet,” Al said. “But then I remember my dad, how understanding he was. And Deborah reminds me that I have to show my son not only that I love him but that I like him as well. More than that, I admire him.”
Al went on to say that he and his wife could tell that Nick was different soon after he was born in 2002.
“We knew right from the beginning that he would be up against a whole different set of challenges,” Al recalled. “He wasn’t developing as fast as he should have, not holding our fingers as tightly, not always meeting our gaze, not as quick to crawl. At three, he hardly talked and could barely walk.”
After getting Nick speech, behavioral and occupational therapy, Al said that his son started to thrive. Since then, Nick has developed many hobbies, including 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 good top-of-the-key basketball shot,” Al 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.”
Al said that Nick has found “his place in the world” at church, which came as something of a surprise to his parents.
“It’s not something Deborah or I would have expected… Nick is focused, dignified, reverent, the brass cross shimmering in the candlelight,” Al said, referring to his son’s “churchgoing guy” responsibilities. “Last year, he went on a mission trip to Haiti with teens from church, helping out at an orphanage, reading to the kids, playing games with them, doing chores. When we picked him up at the airport, the first thing he said in the car was ‘I can’t wait to go back.’”
View this post on Instagram
Al said that in the end, his son’s love for life inspires him every day.
“‘You must be proud of your son,’ someone will say. Yes, I am. More than they’ll ever know,” Al said. “The obstacles in this kid’s way were things that might have tripped up many others. Not Nick, not even with the disabilities he was born with.”
“I can’t begin to take credit for who Nick is and who he might become,” he continued. “All sorts of specialists can tell you about limitations for this and that. Nick never got that message.”
Find out more about Al’s relationship with his son.
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.