As i said my wife is pregnant. I’m going to be a father. And that thought makes me both excited and terrified. I think about reading bedtime stories. What if I block on simple words while my child waits? What if I start avoiding certain books because I’m scared of getting stuck? I imagine school meetings. Talking to teachers. Explaining something about my child clearly. What if I freeze in those moments? I imagine giving advice when my child is struggling. Trying to comfort them. Trying to say, “It’s okay, I’m here.” What if I can’t even say that smoothly? Speech is such a big part of parenting. You guide, you teach, you protect — with words. I’m also scared my child might inherit my stutter. And if they do… I don’t want them to feel the shame I felt. I don’t want them to grow up overthinking every sentence. I don’t want them to become quiet just because speaking feels unsafe. At the same time, I wonder… Maybe they’ll see a father who struggles but still speaks. Who blocks but doesn’t run away. Who shows up to meetings even when it’s uncomfortable. Who reads the bedtime story slowly if he has to — but reads it anyway. Maybe that’s strength. I don’t want my child to see fear in me. But maybe it’s okay if they see vulnerability — as long as they also see courage. Some days I feel strong and ready. Other days I feel like I’m still that 5-year-old kid stuck on his own name. I’m just tired of feeling like my voice decides who I am. If you’ve dealt with stuttering and parenthood… how did you handle it? Did it get easier? Did it change you? I don’t want to pass down shame. I want to pass down resilience. Sorry this was long. I just needed to spit it out