Dwyane Wade is opening up about his youngest son, Xavier Wade, in his new photographic memoir Dwyane.
In the book, Dwyane writes about the challenges of not living with his 8-year-old son Xavier Zechariah, whom he shares with Aja Metoyer.
“Xavier doesn’t live with me, so we don’t get to see each other every day like I do with my other kids,” Wade explains. “It makes things challenging at times, but it’s my job to make sure he never has to carry that weight.”
He continues, “It’s up to me to make sure he knows he’s being raised with love even if we don’t live under the same roof. And it’s up to me to let him know that while distance may physically separate us at times, I’m always going to be the man he can depend on to love him and help lead him.”
Adding, “What I’ve come to learn over my life is that fatherhood isn’t a monolithic image that looks the same in every household. Each relationship is different. All I’m concerned about with Xavier is him always knowing he’s loved.”
Wade is also father to son Zaire Blessing Dwyane, 19, daughters Zaya, 14, and Kaavia James, 3, and is raising his nephew Dahveon Morris, 20.
“I think kids appreciate when you try to get to know them,” the former Miami Heat player told People. “And you know what I’ve always tried to do with my kids, from Zaire all the way down to Xavier, from Kaav and Zaya, I try to meet them where they’re at, and I don’t try to always bring them to where I want them to be, or my world.”
In addition to sharing his thoughts on parenting, Dwyane Wade shares sweet photos of all of his kids throughout his book as well as pictures of his parents and wife Gabrielle Union.
“Because life isn’t perfect, and every situation won’t be perfect, it’s the quality of the moments you spend with someone,” he told PEOPLE. “It’s the attention to detail with someone that means more than a parent that is home all day, every day.”
You can purchase Dwyane online and in book stores near you.
