A Mother For All Seasons by 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.