Chosen Fathers is a collection of heartfelt interviews with thirteen fathers of children with disabilities. The fathers speak openly about the shock and despair they felt when they learned that their child was not what they expected. They talk frankly about marriage, sibling rivalry, financial stress, community relations, challenges of faith, feelings of inadequacy, burn out, and more. They also reveal their discoveries of strengths and abilities in themselves and in others they never knew were there. They share their pride in seeing their child succeed. And they tell how becoming the father their child needs has enabled them to become the man they are meant to be. The journey of a father with a disabled child lasts a lifetime. And the demands and frustrations on that journey never cease. Many fathers ask: how will I ever find strength to endure? Chosen Fathers tells how fathers have found it within. A man tends to face adversity one-on-one, like opponents in a martial arts contest. But if he hasn’t prepared for the match he may feel overwhelmed and incompetent. Chosen Fathers reassures fathers that it is okay not to know what to do in every situation. It encourages fathers to find the information, the assistance, and support they need through team-building. Every father wants his child to succeed. The pain is so deep when a father thinks his child never will. Chosen Fathers shows how fathers reframed their expectations; how they learned to feel pride in the growth their child achieves no matter how little or how slow. Dr. Stromberg is the father of an adult son with disabilities. Based on his personal experience, his professional knowledge as an educator, and the interviews in Chosen Fathers, he outlines four success strategies for raising children. But besides being a proven guide for successful parenting, Chosen Fathers is a testimony to the strength and ability of fathers to accept the unwanted, solve seemingly insurmountable problems, and turn despair into joy.
