TODAY’s Craig Melvin Wants to ‘Celebrate Parenthood’ With New Book
By Movieguide® Contributor
TODAY anchor Craig Melvin says his kids inspired his new book, “I’m Proud Of You.”
“Several years ago, I found myself being pretty amazed at some of the little small things [son Delano, 10] was picking up, like learning how to tie a shoe, jumping off the diving board, shooting a basket for the first time,” he said while appearing on THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW.
Melvin continued, “And I was like, this is really cool. I want to have a front row seat to it, and I thought they’re probably a lot of other parents that celebrate little milestones like this, but because we’re in the thick of it, the chaos of it all, you kind of gloss over it. You kind of forget about it. I didn’t want to forget about it.”
The TODAY anchor explained that he decided to “write some of this stuff down,” adding that, as he got older, the things Melvin was finding pride in were “not just the stuff he can do. It’s the kind of person he’s becoming.”
“I wanted to remember all of that…I wanted to just celebrate parenthood, especially fatherhood,” he concluded.
In an Instagram post about the children’s book, Melvin wrote, “I have many passions in life, but what I’m most passionate about is being a father. I’m Proud Of You is a celebration of the small things in life, and a book for anybody who has experienced the joys and wonders of parenthood and wants their children to know how amazing and inspiring they are.”
Melvin is also father to daughter Sybil, 7. He shares both kids with his wife and sports broadcaster Lindsay Czarniak.
He has previously spoken about the importance of being a present parent, telling Parents.com, “I’m proud that I am physically present for my kids, and what I work on is being more emotionally and mentally present for them.”
“When I’m with my son or daughter, I’m listening and responding to what they tell me instead of wondering about my to-do list or thinking about the show from that morning or emails I have to get back to,” he explained.
Melvin has also spoken about the role faith played in his relationship with his own father. Movieguide® previously reported:
NBC anchor Craig Melvin credits prayer for saving his father’s life.
In a new article for Guideposts, Melvin opened up about his father’s brutal addiction and how the power of prayer is what ultimately set his father free.
“I’ve always believed in the power of prayer. I pray all the time—in the dressing room, in the car at night. I think that’s the relationship God wants us to have. This ability to hold a conversation with him, wherever you are. The intervention we did with Pops was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. Saying all of that raw stuff to his face. Now I was praying for Pops to recover,” Melvin said.
“’God, please, please hear that prayer,’” I said over and over as I drove to my dad’s rehab,” Melvin recalled.
After years of disappointments, the family finally held an intervention, and Melvin’s father agreed to get treatment.
Melvin was his father’s first visitor at the rehab facility, and Melvin didn’t know what to expect when he walked through the doors.
“Pops and I had agreed to meet in front of the main building. I stepped out of the car and walked over to him, and Pops gave me this huge, beautiful hug. We’d never really been big huggers before, but, man, there it was. I started to cry, and so did he. At that moment, I knew things were going to be different. Rehab was working. Prayer was working,” Melvin said.
From that point on, Melvin’s relationship with his father changed. His father became a present figure in both Melvin and his family’s lives.
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