Chris Riley: From Control to Connection

About Chris

Chris and Andrea from Nashville, Tennessee, adopted two babies from Russia in 1998. That began a lifelong journey, including an autism diagnosis for their son, Joshua, when he turned 18 years old. Chris discovered Jeff's book "Common Man, Extraordinary Call" to lead a group of special needs dads in 2020. This group spent two years carefully navigating this wonderful "trailblazing book" that digs deep into the heart of a dad with a special needs child. From those years of transformation and inspiration from Jeff's example, Chris wrote a small group study guide as a starting point for special needs dads called "The Journey with Our Kids". Today is a different story for Chris and Josh, a contentious and anger-filled childhood restored through God's mercy, Josh's forgiving heart, and Jeff's book.

 

About the Episode

In this conversation, Chris Riley shares his journey as a father of children with special needs, detailing the challenges and transformations he experienced through adoption, diagnosis, and emotional struggles. He reflects on the importance of connection, forgiveness, and the impact of a pivotal book that changed his perspective on parenting. The discussion emphasizes the significance of delighting in children and the journey of personal growth as a father. In this conversation, Chris Riley shares his journey of creating a supportive community for fathers of special needs children. He discusses the importance of understanding the unique communication needs of these children and how shared experiences can transform the lives of dads. Chris emphasizes the need for resources tailored to special-needs parenting and reflects on the lessons learned through his own parenting journey. He concludes with insights on finding joy in imperfection and the importance of humility in the parenting process.

 

Related Links

Common Man, Extraordinary Call