A Search for Fluency That Ended With Acceptance

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Re: Fluency

From: Craig Stephenson
Date: 10/16/01
Time: 7:36:43 PM
Remote Name: 64.12.104.161

Comments

That was a great story full of hope, life, and motivation. You have overcome so much in your life. Your stuttering has truly made you stronger. Do you feel that your relationship with your father when you were young worsened your stuttering psychologically? Dear Melissa,

Thank you for the kind words. My life really has not been all that hard. Each of us has our own cross to bear, mine was stuttering. I believe hard ships cause growth and you are right stuttering has given me many strengths.

My father worked for Albertson’s when they only had three stores. They now have over five hundred. Many good men sacrificed their family life to help build that empire. My father worked many hours and time with him was a rare thing.

I believe my stuttering was directly related to how important a relationship was to me. The more important I deemed the relationship to be the more difficult it was not to stutter. Because my father’s approval was so valued I think I had a much harder time talking to him, although women always took a close second as I was growing up.

I do not think it was just my father, but the fact that I cared so much for him, which made the stuttering worse. Seems like the more I did not want to stutter the more I did stutter. Not only with him but anyone I felt really close to, or was trying to impress.

I hope that answers your question.


Last changed: September 12, 2005