Book Nook: No I Will

‘No I Will’ (available August 16th) is a father’s own story of his experiences raising a special child. It is a searingly honest account of his struggles and the challenges he faced. It is heartfelt and uplifting, incredibly moving and full of laugh out loud humor.

While Richard Matthews and his wife Julie did not choose to give birth to a child with learning difficulties, their son William has afforded a series of challenges and rewarding experiences that they wouldn’t have changed for the world. In his new memoir, ‘No I Will’, Richard takes readers on a frank and honest journey inside his life and that of his family. It’s a story of hope, love and a stigma-crushing showcase of the beauty of life through the eyes of a special child.

‘No I Will’ is a book which deals with the parental issues of bringing up a child with learning difficulties in a new and sensitive way. Richard doesn’t side-track the problems it causes within a family environment but at the same time he brings out the humor, deep love and ultimate joy such a child brings to the family. It is a father’s own story of his experiences raising a special child and is a searingly honest account of his struggles and the challenges he faced. It is heartfelt and uplifting, incredibly moving and full of laugh out loud humor.

He says; “I don’t believe any parent, if they had the choice, would choose a physical or mental handicap for their child. No parent wants their child to suffer. But despite my son’s limitations, he inspires me every day. He is innocence personified and sees the world as the truly wonderful and magical place that it is. He reminds me how to have fun, to find humor in everything and show kindness to everyone.”

I had a chance to interview the author to learn more.

Why did you decide to write this book?

There were a number of reasons why I decided to write the book. Firstly, I guess like many people I’d often wondered if I had a book in me, I had a talent for writing at school [35 years ago] and finally I had a subject that I knew very well. Secondly, my son Will is an extraordinary young man. He improves the lives of everyone he meets with his honesty, kindness and wonderful sense of humour. I see the incredible effect he has on people that he meets and I knew I had to share his story.  But my main motivation was to help shine a light on the difficulties parents in a similar position face on a daily basis and ultimately, to give hope. Although in recent years there has been a huge shift in attitudes and understanding of special needs and disabilities, there has been very little written from a father’s point of view.    

Why is it important to hear the stories of a variety of families of children with special needs?

I think the more stories like mine that are shared, the better. Even very close friends of ours that have read my book admitted they had no idea what my wife, Julie and I had been through. I wanted to share all of my experiences, good and bad, to raise awareness and to show that regardless of the disability, everybody has boundless gifts to offer the world.

What is one of the most unexpected things you've discovered about raising a child with special needs?

Without doubt, the most unexpected thing I’ve discovered about raising a child with special needs, is the difference that it has made to me. I have learned patience and understanding that I would never have thought possible. The hard truth is that nobody, if they had the choice, would choose to have a child with special needs. No one wants their child to suffer. But despite my son’s limitations, he inspires me every day. We are all trying to live in the moment and see the world as the wonderful and magical place that it is. Will does this naturally. He reminds me to have fun, to find humour in everything and to show kindness to everyone.