One of my primary responsibilities as a parent, is to help my children develop the skills they need to navigate life’s challenges. For one of my sons, who struggles with stuttering, I sought to create a supportive tool that could not only help him overcome this challenge but also foster personal growth and confidence. 

I wrote a poem for him to recite every morning in the mirror, designed to encourage him to slow down and overcome his stutter while also providing affirmations to help him become a better man. My short poem is at the end of this blog post!

The idea behind this poem is based on several key benefits that can be derived from incorporating positive affirmations and focused speech practice into a daily routine:

1. Building Confidence: Starting the day with empowering words and positive affirmations can significantly boost self-esteem. This daily practice helps children recognize their worth and develop a strong sense of self, allowing them to tackle the day ahead with confidence and resilience.
2. Developing Mindfulness: Reciting a poem slowly and deliberately encourages mindfulness and presence in the moment. This focused attention not only helps children overcome stuttering but also sets the foundation for a day filled with greater awareness and intentionality.
3. Enhancing Communication Skills: Slowing down and speaking with purpose allows children to practice effective communication. Over time, this practice can help them develop greater control over their speech, reducing stuttering and facilitating smoother, more articulate conversations.
4. Reinforcing Positive Values: The poem’s content emphasizes values such as bravery, kindness, and personal growth. By reciting these words every morning, children internalize these values and carry them throughout their day, promoting positive behavior and encouraging them to become better individuals.
5. Establishing a Daily Routine: Creating a consistent morning routine can provide stability and structure for children. The process of reciting a poem each day helps them develop discipline and focus, which can be applied to other aspects of their lives, such as schoolwork, sports and other extracurricular activities.

Incorporating an encouraging poem into a child’s morning routine offers numerous benefits. It not only helps them overcome speech challenges like stuttering but also can instill confidence, mindfulness, and positive values that can serve as a strong foundation for personal growth. By giving my son this simple yet powerful tool, I hope to support him on his journey towards becoming the best version of himself.

If you’re not sure how to do this yourself, you can easily use Jasper.ai for help here. Using the chat feature, you can enter the simple prompt to get you started:

I need help writing a short poem my son can recite every morning in the mirror. It’s designed to help him speak slowly to overcome a stutter. It’s also designed to start his day with affirmations and encouragement helping him become a better man.

And here’s the 1st version it produced for me!

In the mirror, I now stand, Taking time, my words in hand.
Slow and steady, I shall speak, Growing stronger, never weak.

I am brave, I am kind, Courage flows within my mind.
Every day, I will grow, Learning more than I now know.

Cherish friendships, spread the love, Like the peaceful, cooing dove.
In this world, I’ll make my mark, Guided by an inner spark.

As I breathe and gently pause, I shall overcome any flaws.
In the mirror, every morn, A better man is being born.

If you have a moment today, we would love your prayers for this journey! I’m so proud of the man he’s already becoming, I can’t wait to see how this daily routine impacts his future!