Al Roker shares the heartfelt breakfast he made for son Nick before college, revealing goodbye words that moved parents nationwide .QN

In a moment that tugged at the heartstrings of parents across the nation, Today Show weatherman Al Roker shared an emotional farewell with his youngest son, Nick, as he sent him off to college for another semester.

The beloved TV personality, known for his sunny disposition and culinary flair, poured his heart into preparing a special breakfast for Nick, a meal that symbolized more than just nourishment—it was a final act of love before a long separation.

But it was Nick’s parting words, shared by a tearful Al, that left American parents reaching for tissues, resonating with anyone who’s ever faced the bittersweet moment of watching a child leave the nest.

Al Roker, 70, and his wife, ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts, have been open about their pride in Nick, 22, who has overcome significant challenges to reach this point in his academic journey. Nick, who is on the autism spectrum and has faced developmental delays since childhood, graduated with an associate’s degree in communications from Landmark College in Vermont in May 2025.

Now pursuing his bachelor’s degree, Nick’s resilience and determination have been a source of inspiration for his parents and fans alike. But as Al prepared to drop Nick off for his junior year in August 2024, the weight of the moment hit hard.

The morning of the departure, Al, a self-proclaimed food enthusiast, took to the kitchen to whip up a breakfast that would linger in Nick’s memory as much as it would in his own. The meal was a carefully crafted spread: a fluffy cheese omelet, crispy bacon, golden roasted potatoes, and a buttery croissant, paired with a glass of fresh orange juice.

Al shared a photo of the plate on Instagram, captioning it, “Only a few days left for me to make breakfast for Nick.” The post, simple yet poignant, struck a chord with followers who understood the unspoken love behind each ingredient. For Al, this wasn’t just breakfast—it was a ritual, a way to hold onto the fleeting moments before his son returned to campus.

As Al and Deborah packed the family car with Nick’s dorm essentials, the reality of the empty nest loomed large. The couple, who also share daughter Leila, 26, and Al’s daughter Courtney, 37, from a previous marriage, have navigated the emotional rollercoaster of parenting Nick with grace and advocacy.

Al has often spoken about Nick’s journey, noting in a 2020 interview with Guideposts that while Nick’s diagnoses of autism and possible obsessive-compulsive disorder presented challenges, “those labels don’t begin to describe who Nick really is.” From earning a black belt in taekwondo to winning gold medals at the Special Olympics New York, Nick’s accomplishments are a testament to his spirit—and his parents’ unwavering support.

The drive to Landmark College was filled with quiet moments and shared smiles, but the goodbye was where emotions overflowed. In an Instagram post, Al shared a photo of the trio—himself, Deborah, and Nick—beaming in front of the packed car.

“Dropped Nick off this afternoon. Hard to believe we have a college junior!! House is a little too quiet,” Al wrote, capturing the bittersweet ache of the moment. But it was during a later Today Show segment that Al revealed the words Nick said as they parted, a moment that left viewers in tears.

As Al recounted, Nick turned to his parents, his voice steady but filled with emotion, and said, “I’m going to make you proud, Dad. I’m ready for this.” Those simple words, spoken with the quiet confidence of a young man who’s faced more hurdles than most, broke Al.

The veteran weatherman, usually quick with a joke or a smile, choked up as he shared the story, his voice cracking. “I’m already proud,” Al managed to say, his eyes glistening. “But hearing him say that, knowing how far he’s come… it just hit me.”

The moment resonated deeply with American parents, many of whom flooded social media with messages of support. One commenter wrote, “As a mom who just sent her daughter to college, I’m sobbing.

Al, you and Nick are an inspiration.” Another added, “Those words from Nick are everything. You’ve raised an incredible young man.” The outpouring of love underscored the universal pain and pride of letting go, a sentiment Al and Deborah have shared candidly over the years.

Deborah, too, has been vocal about the emotional toll of Nick’s college journey. In a 2022 Instagram post, she wrote, “After all the hard work. All the discipline. All the dreaming. All the prayers. His moment to soar has come. (I’m not crying. I promise.)”

Her words echoed the pride and heartache of watching Nick, who once struggled to walk and talk, thrive in ways they never imagined. The couple’s advocacy for neurodiversity, highlighted by Deborah’s praise of Nick and his fellow graduates as “living proof that neurodiversity is a value worth honoring,” has only amplified the impact of their story.

Al’s breakfast for Nick wasn’t just a meal—it was a love letter, a way to say, “I’m with you, even when we’re apart.” The omelet, the bacon, the croissant—each bite was a reminder of home, of the mornings spent together in their Upper East Side brownstone, where Al and Nick bonded over food and laughter.

Fans who followed Al’s cooking posts during the pandemic, when he and Nick whipped up meals together, saw this breakfast as a continuation of that bond. “Y’all’s cooking videos got me through Covid!” one fan commented, referencing the heartwarming father-son moments that have become a hallmark of Al’s social media presence.

As Nick embarks on another semester, Al and Deborah are left with a quieter home but fuller hearts. Nick’s journey, from a child facing developmental challenges to a college junior with big dreams, is a story of perseverance that resonates far beyond the Roker family.

And those parting words—“I’m going to make you proud, Dad. I’m ready for this”—are a promise that Nick is not just surviving but thriving, carrying his parents’ love with him every step of the way.

For Al, the tears may have fallen, but the pride is unmistakable. As he said on Today, “Nick’s not just my son—he’s my hero.” And for parents across America, wiping away their own tears, Nick’s words and Al’s breakfast are a reminder that love, in all its forms, is what carries us through life’s toughest goodbyes.