Raising Cubby: A Father and Son’s Adventures

Over the past ten years, at least a hundred memoirs have appeared, each telling the story of a mom raising a child with autism.  In those tales, the moms are heroic, and the kids are troubled.  Some books are triumphant, while others end with defeat.  In every case, the kids and their moms are front and center.  But where are the dads?

I decided to address that question by telling my own story of parenting.

In my story, the dad’s role in child rearing is fully revealed, and many secrets of fatherhood will be shared, some for the first time ever in print.  Some secrets are shocking, while others are enlightening.  A few are even amusing, though I view all of them with the greatest of gravity.  Among the secrets I reveal:

• How to mark your newborn child, and be protected from “swapped at birth?” exposes forevermore;
• What to do with a kid who won’t go to sleep;
• How to tell the difference between nuclear powered robotic farm animals, and natural born creatures;
• Imaginative and creative uses for grandparents;
• The true story of Christmas, including the secret location where coal for children’s stockings is stored;
• The best ways to deal with monsters;
• How to build Vegetable Artillery;
• How to buy your own railroad;
• What to say when Federal Agents come calling.

Armed with this story, any prospective dad will be able to enter into parenthood fully armed and prepared for whatever may come.  Dads who already have children will get new ideas for fun and exciting entertainment.  Moms will gain remarkable new insight.

Family pets will feel more secure.

You can preorder your copy from Amazon here

You can preorder from an independent bookseller here

(c) 2007-2011 John Elder Robison
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John Elder Robison

John Elder Robison is an autistic adult and advocate for people with neurological differences. He’s the author of Look Me in the Eye, Be Different, Raising Cubby, and Switched On. He serves on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee of the US Dept of Health and Human Services and many other autism-related boards. He co-founded the TCS Auto Program (A school for teens with developmental challenges) and he’s the Neurodiversity Scholar in Residence at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and an advisor to the Neurodiversity Institute at Landmark College in Putney, Vermont.

The opinions expressed here are his own. There is no warranty expressed or implied. While reading this essay will give you food for thought, actually printing and eating it may make you sick.