About the book
Mother for All Seasons is the heartfelt, intimate memoir of
an everywoman—a single mom and an educator who raised three exceptional
children, including the greatest Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps.
During the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, when Michael achieved the
impossible with his record-shattering eight gold-medal wins, Debbie
Phelps nearly stole the show. For the millions who were riveted to the
most watched Olympics in history, few could forget the homage that
Michael consistently paid to the one person on Team Phelps most
responsible for making it all possible: his mom. Nor can we forget how
after each medal ceremony, Michael walked proudly to the stands to
reach up to his mother and his sisters, Hilary and Whitney, to deliver
his winning bouquets to them.
While those highlights will
forever be remembered the world over, very few know the
behind-the-scenes stories as lived by the members of Team Phelps—a
roller-coaster ride full of dramatic ups and downs, heartbreaks, and
disappointments, yet one guided to triumph by vision, courage, and
tenacity. Now at last, in A Mother for All Seasons, we're given the untold story as lived by the mom on the team.
An educator in home economics, motivational spokeswoman, visionary
middle-school principal, mother of three, and grandmother of two,
Debbie Phelps is also the eternal cheerleader who was raised in a
small, blue-collar, working-class town. An avid believer
thatachievement is limitless for each and every child, no matter the
odds, Debbie reveals the universal themes of her story, which is rich
with struggle, humor, hope, advice, and passion.
Infused with the indomitable spirit of “America's mom,” as she has been called, A Mother for All Seasons
rallies us to cheer for all of our children at every stage of their
growth and in every endeavor. Candid, lively, and charming, it offers
timely, commonsense wisdom, lessons, and insights, and provides a
much-needed reminder that life doesn't always turn out how you plan it,
but in fact it can sometimes turn out even better.
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About Debbie Phelps
During the
2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, when Michael achieved the impossible
with his record-shattering eight gold-medal wins, Debbie Phelps
nearly stole the show. Few could forget the homage that Michael
consistently paid to the one person on Team Phelps most responsible for
making it all possible: his mom. While those highlights will forever be
remembered the world over, very few know the behind-the-scenes stories.
Michael was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 9.
He was exceptionally tall and skinny with huge ears.
His arms flapped below his knees when he ran.
Teachers complained about his "immature behavior"
and kids bullied him.
The Phelps were a swimming
family, with Michael's older sister, Whitney, ranked first in the
nation in the 200-meter butterfly. By age 10, Michael himself was
ranked nationally. By 15, he was at the Olympics; at 16 he had his
first world record; and by 19, at the 2004 Olympics, he had won 8
medals, 6 of them gold.
Today, Michael Phelps holds the record for the most
gold medals at a single Olympics. Overall, Phelps has won 16 Olympic
medals and nearly five dozen international titles spanning the
Olympics, the World, and the Pan Pacific Championships.
Debbie Phelps has been hailed "America's mom." An
educator in home economics, motivational spokeswoman, visionary
middle-school principal, mother of three, and grandmother of two,
Debbie is an avid believer that achievement is limitless for each and
every child, no matter the odds. In this book, Debbie reveals the
universal themes of her story, which is rich with struggle, humor,
hope, advice, and passion. Candid, lively, and charming, Debbie offers
timely, commonsense wisdom, lessons, and insights, and provides a
much-needed reminder that life doesn't always turn out how you plan it,
but in fact it can sometimes turn out even better.
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