Four Letter Words

By Jenny

I am and always have been a swearer. I know it’s not ladylike, I know it isn’t professional. I try to keep it out of  the workplace. But the truth is, I love to cuss. I love to drop the F bomb and the S word is just a natural part of my vocabulary. I’ve tried to quit cussing in the past, but the way I always looked at it, life is short and if it makes me happy to use some lesser words, then that’s what I’m going to do.

Maybe it's the rebel in me that I rarely let loose. Maybe this is my little bit of anarchy.

But of all the situations where it would be most appropriate to keep a lid on it, I’ve failed in this one. I’ve taught my 3-year-old daughter the S word. Through example, I’ve taught her how to pronounce it with gusto, when to use it appropriately and to not really apologize for it. Just like me. And it’s awful. OK, really, it’s cute. It’s adorable when she’s working on something that frustrates her and she says the word. And she says it like she means it, and she knows exactly what it means. But it's not appropriate, and I'm trying to correct it.

After my daughter got the lecture and the word to use as a supplement – I went with “poop” and “shoot” – she agreed. But I’ve heard it coming out before she can stop it. I wonder if she’s doing it intentionally, or if she’s already trained herself. It’s going to be a tough habit to break – for both of us.

Are you responsible for a bad habit in your kids? How did you break their bad habits?

Comments

[Dorene]

Last year my garage door was broken. So for weeks my then 2yr old daughter heard g-ddammit every day. Of course she picked it up and used it appropriately and often. It took a good couple of months of me not using the word and trying not to overreact when she did before she got tired of saying it. Now when I slip and say it she lectures me.

[Erika]

I've heard good things about using a "Swear Jar" to curb potty-mouths.

Every time someone in the house uses a naughty word (including grownups) they have to put something valuable in the swear jar. Grown-ups put money, kids put binkies or toys, etc. The more you lose, the more likely you are to remember to hold your tongue.

I've heard this is successful because it's not punishment so much as it makes swearing a tangible cost and it's fun for the first few times so the kids get into it.