A more supportive and emotionally available father. I realize now, as someone in my 20s, looking back, all of my issues surrounding my speech now don’t stem from my speech impediment but from the way I perceive it. If I had a father that was more encouraging, supportive, and someone willing to build my self esteem rather than leaving me to sink or swim on my own, I’d be handling my speech impediment as just another thing I have to deal with rather than a Mount Everest of an issue I have to overcome.