Dave Pelzer now spends his Saturdays the way many grandfathers do. He takes his six-year-old grandson to a pumpkin patch. He rides the little train. He laughs on the “super-super” slide. Then he goes home tired in the best way.

Still, his past follows him. It always has.

Thirty years ago, Pelzer published A Child Called “It.” The memoir described a childhood marked by hunger, fear, and isolation. His mother refused to call him Dave. Instead, she called him “It.” Teachers finally stepped in. They pulled him out of the home at 12. Pelzer still calls that day his “Rescue Day.”

Afterward, he built a life in pieces. First, he served in the Air Force. Then he wrote for two decades before he felt ready to share the story. The book became a worldwide bestseller. With that success came attention. It also brought fractures. Some relatives backed away. Others challenged his account. Grief and loyalty collided inside the family.

Meanwhile, the abuse shaped his adult relationships. He married three times. He admits he missed parts of his son’s childhood while he traveled to speak. However, he also chose to show up later with honesty and care. Today, he stays close to his son and cherishes his role as a grandfather.

Most of all, Pelzer measures healing in small, steady rituals. He loves cooking. He celebrates “clean sheet Fridays.” And he keeps volunteering.

Because now he wants one thing. He wants to break the cycle.