When it comes to kids and language, I have to confess something: I find it pretty entertaining when little ones swear. Honestly, I often end up in fits of laughter, which I know is probably the last thing a parent should do. It’s not just a light chuckle; it’s full-blown laughter. And yes, this applies to my own child too. While I sometimes manage to excuse myself before I burst out laughing, that’s not always a surefire plan. For the most part, I’m okay with my child’s use of swear words, but there are limits, especially when it becomes excessive.
To me, swearing is just another form of expression. As someone who works extensively with language, I believe there are truly offensive words, like racial slurs, but other terms—like “fuck”—seem to be labeled as inappropriate for no real reason. They’re just words, after all. Sure, words hold meaning, but I find that swear words can be some of the most adaptable in the English language. It all hinges on context, and that’s a lesson I try to impart to my son. He’s got the hang of it, much to my chagrin.
His go-to phrase is “What the hell?” In the grand scheme of swearing, that’s relatively mild. It’s not the phrase itself that’s the issue; it’s the sheer number of times he can recite it in quick succession that really gets under my skin. When I curse around him, I don’t repeat it incessantly; I might drop a single, impactful “fuck” and move on. But my son? It seems like he’s turned it into a game: “How many times can I say this in five minutes before Mom loses her patience?”
For those curious, the magic number seems to be three. At that point, I usually have to intervene with a warning: “Seriously? If you say that again, I’m going to scream!” He knows I mean it, so he typically stops, but about 20 minutes later, he’s back at it again. What on earth? Sometimes it feels like he’s doing it just to drive me up the wall.
I sometimes wish he would switch it up just for fun. I’ve been known to use colorful language myself since my teenage years, and while I can easily drop an “f-bomb” or exclaim “oh shit” when frustrated, my son doesn’t mimic those. There was a time we missed the bus, and I exclaimed, “AW, SHIT!” to which he innocently responded, “Shit what, Mommy?” After I managed to suppress a laugh, I explained my frustration, but he shrugged it off and pressed the crosswalk button. Days went by, yet all I heard was “What the hell?” on repeat.
As irritating as it can be, his timing is often spot-on. He manages to use it so naturally that some people don’t even catch what he’s saying. It has become as habitual for him as calling me “Mommy,” and apparently more so than saying “please.” Of course, if he starts getting a bit too enthusiastic, I do step in and suggest he try using different expressions. To my surprise, he never argues about it. He’ll go a few weeks without saying it, only to mutter “what the hell?” to himself later, and I can’t help but chuckle.
Ultimately, swearing is about context. If he were spouting off “fuck” left and right, I’d probably be a nervous wreck trying to keep my composure. I remind him that while it’s acceptable to express himself around me, it’s best to keep those statements private otherwise. He seems to grasp that concept well—at least, if he’s said it when I’m not around, no one’s ever mentioned it to me. They were likely too busy laughing.
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In summary, while I find my child’s use of swear words amusing at times, I also recognize the importance of teaching him about context and appropriateness. Striking a balance is key, and I hope to guide him in a way that respects language without stifling his expression.