The truth of the matter is we all have something that is a weakness. For me it is my weight, I like to bake and cook but I also like to eat those things too. Add in the genetics of a slow metabolism and here I am, overweight. But that is something,that if I work hard enough, will go away. I can be thin and in shape, with enough willpower, dieting, and workouts. My husband is not so lucky.

Jeremy stutters. His mom noticed it when he was about 4. She noticed he was trying to say something but his mouth just wouldn't let it come out. I don't know all the history but I know that when he moved from New Iberia to Mandeville, the stress of the move effected him and he was considered a severe stutterer. He has told me horrible stories about being bullied. Stories of no friends and crying himself to sleep. Junior high was miserable for him. Somehow, in high school, he fell into a group called Pride. This group gave him the confidence he need to beat back his speech problem. By the time he was a senior in high school, most of his friends did not realize he stuttered.

When Jeremy and I met, he had just moved to college and the stress had gotten to him again. He could no longer hide his stuttering. It got better as he became more comfortable with us (his friends) and school. After we married, Jeremy grew up alot very quickly. One of the things he had to face was his speech. It was one thing that was holding him back. It took a lot of praying and conversations with God but Jeremy finally realized that his speech was a part of him. That for whatever reason, God had given him this " thorn in his side" and that Jeremy would have to embrace it.

At the begining of this year, Jeremy started a support group for young stutterers. He has two little girls that go. They talk about how they are treated in school and how they can make people understand what stuttering is. He is starting to consider talking to different school kids so that he can maybe help childern understand stuttering and stop some of the bullying that goes with it. I can not express how unbelievably proud I am of him.

Now, I know that stuttering is not as horrible as everyone thinks it is. In fact, I go to Jeremy's group with him and try to help teach these kids that stuttering does not have to define who you are or what you are going to do with your life. But there is a hiccup in all of this, Thatcher has begun to stutter. Not nearly as bad as Jeremy did or even does now, but we have seen it. When he is nervous or scared, we see his mouth and neck tighten and nothing comes out. Now, with all the facts I know, I am struggling with this alot. I don't want my sweet little boy to get picked on. I don't want him to have all those problems his daddy had with friends and school.

I know that I will have to turn this over to God. I knew when Jeremy and I started having children that this was a huge possiblity. I guess, I am just shocked at how much it really does bother me.