Hi Lyssinflannel, I had to respond to your post because I felt like I was reading an entry in my diary lol. I’m a 23/f stutterer…soon to be 24 I never attended Hollins, but I did purchase the speecheasy…with no luck….$5,000 down the drain. My boyfriend and I have been dating for 3 years. He swears I don’t stutter as well. And it’s funny, I really don’t around him (obviously I trust him and feel very comfortable around him). However, as soon as I’m around his friends and family…it’s another story :/.. I know what you mean…by how it makes you upset that your bf says you don’t stutter. It makes me so upset sometimes too…like just acknowledge my problem!! I don’t want to feel like this disorder is all in my head!!...but on one hand it’s sweet…like thank you for the little confidence boost. I guess it’s a little of human nature…whenever my boyfriend asks me about any of his little problems…I usually brush them off to put his nerves at ease..honestly I could care less about them. I'm so grateful he is patient with me, and lets me finish my own sentences...keeps eye contact with me etc. It’s funny, one of the major things that attracted me to my boyfriend was how outgoing and confident he is. He has no problem asking anyone a question, making a complaint, making a joke…he loves to talk lol. I feel like my biggest weakness is his biggest strength. But it’s been difficult joining him now in all of his social outings….going to bars with his friends, meeting his family, dinner with his coworkers. I can’t but feel like I hold him back…or worse even embarrass him a little. Lol yes! Many more men stutter than women, *high five* to being one of the lucky ones (jk)! But yes, dating men has always given me major anxiety….first dates in crowded restaurants…awful group dates…I never thought I would meet anyone that was right for me. My biggest fear is passing my stuttering torch to one of my children. Hands down. My mother has an ever-so-slight speech impediment…not so much stuttering..more like speech sound disorder…like says words wrong..she was born in the US…but sometimes has a hard time getting the words out of her mouth…not really a block…hard to explain. She had speech therapy growing up. Naturally, I think it’s something in my family…and I’m terrified of putting another human in this world who is terrified to speak…the struggles of making friends in school, not reaching full potential in the workforce…never feeling good enough. It would be so painful to watch my life in replay. Call me crazy but I keep hoping they find the cause of stuttering..I know certain genes have been identified. But, if I ever have children I’d almost like to consult a speech therapist immediately…I know with children..the sooner you start the better….but on the other hand I don’t want to overly make a big deal of it…and brainwash my child into labeling themselves as a stutterer…or put pressure on my child into not stuttering. I don’t know. I’ve asked my mother about this concern many times. My parents don’t see stuttering a big deal, so everytime I try to have a serious talk she rolls her eyes at me… I’ve spoken with many stutterers about this issue. From the stutterers I’ve spoken with…more of their children don’t stutter than do…gives me a little hope lol. But I have spoken with stutterers who have children who also stutter. Obviously there is no way to guarantee your child will not stutter, but I’ve always wanted to be a mother… so I don’t know. I guess time will tell. I wanted to let you know that your concerns are real…and you are not alone <3