Whenever I am asked about my children, I respond by articulating that my children are my greatest blessing and continue to teach me about myself every day. Both of my children stutter. This has been a complicated road for them. Not because of the stutter but because of society’s response to something that is different.
I believe that our struggles make us who we are and teach us resilience. While I wish my children never had to face adversity, I believe their stutters have molded them in a positive way. Both have a tremendous gift of empathy and do their best to be inclusive and welcoming to all people.
I think challenges come to everyone and our ability to navigate the roadblocks teach us to how to exist in a sometimes-unkind world.
I tell my kids all the time that our challenges are given to us for a reason. No matter what challenges your children face, try to encourage them to appreciate the journey even when the road is hard. School can be a difficult place if you don’t fit in to the mold society has set, but being unapologetic for who you are is a powerful thing. If you can help your children to believe in themselves and be confident in who they are, life can be so much easier. We all have unique gifts and qualities to celebrate. I encourage you to enjoy the stage you are in and to help your child to learn how to advocate for themselves and to love and appreciate who they are and what special qualities they bring to the table.
Parenting is not easy but celebrating the little wins along the way makes all the difference.
