Thapelo Mokoena’s wife opens up about raising a child with a speech impediment

07 August 2022 - 10:00
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Thapelo's wife Lesego Mokoena opened up about their son's struggles.
Thapelo's wife Lesego Mokoena opened up about their son's struggles.
Image: Instagram/Lesego - Tshepanng

Lesego, entrepreneur and wife of actor Thapelo Mokoena, has opened up about the sometimes heartbreaking journey of raising a child who has a speech impediment.

Taking to her Instagram earlier this week, the mom of two celebrated her second's son academic achievement with a lengthy note detailing what it had taken for such results to be achieved.

Today I had the most amazing feedback from Reko's teacher during the parent-teacher feedback meeting. She said Reko displayed excellent leadership skills and was top of his class. To any other parent this might be great feedback but not earth-shattering stuff. But for us this absolutely earth-shattering. Almost unbelievable. At one point I could never imagine Reko stringing three coherent words together, never mind being a leader or top of his grade,” said the excited mom.

Lesego said her family went through a lot trying to help Reko and the journey was taxing. 

“The period during which the picture above was taken was absolutely harrowing. I thought I knew stress and anxiety until that point in my life. Constantly on the internet  researching what could be the problem, moving from doctor to doctor.”

At that point I really didn't know what to do, but what I knew was what not to do. I was not going to sit back and hope for the best. I was not going to put the responsibility solely in the doctor's, teacher's and therapist's hands. I was not going to be afraid of any diagnosis or be defensive or in denial. What I've learnt from this entire journey of having a child with a speech impediment is that there is so much information out there. There is so much you can do at home. You really have more power than you realise,” Lesego said.

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