Is it odd that I let my 5yo say... - Page 3

[earthworm]

I don't find it odd at all.
My 3 year old says it. My in-laws have a problem with it (as well as butt, etc etc), but oh well. The only words I have a problem with are words that are hurtful. We do try to keep the cussing to a minimum as he doesn't quite understand that some people are offended by those words or why they would be offended.

[Ceinwen]

My 7.5 year old dd knows to watch her language out in public, but is also allowed to say whatever she wants at home.

I run a bit of a potty mouth myself, and she's seen that I know how to use language appropriately.

[rightkindofme]

We have an awesome childrens book called Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance and in the book he exclaims, "What the heck!" It's hilarious and awesome. It's a super fun book.

[Hoopin' Mama]

Thanks for all the feedback.

The last time ds exclaimed "What the!" and the other parent whipped his head around and looked it me with a wide-eyed expression, perhaps he did think "wtf" was going to be said. I couldn't figure out his reaction, and the idea of the f-bomb didn't occur to me. I'm pretty sure he was waiting for me to reprimand.

Full disclosure: I cuss. Ds has dropped the f-bomb, we've talked about and then he doesn't do it again for a long time. I'm pretty laid back about language unless it's mean or hateful, or just poor grammar.

[hildare]

Originally Posted by Mountaingirl79

Personally, my kids are allowed to use cuss words at home so I may not be the person to ask. I dont let them be mean to each other with their words, but I just dont follow the whole " some words are bad!" mindset.
If you stub your toe and say "shit" and we are at home alone, it is no skin off my back.

That said, I also teach my kids that certain words are used at certain times and in certain situations. It is not okay to cuss in public, or obnoxiously, at others, or at grandmas...etc.

They have never disappointed me. So, that is my two cents.

I have to say, my kids are very polite and well mannered, even though I let the odd curse word slip by my head.


Long story short, " what the heck" wouldn't even fall on my radar.

This is us, too. All I can think about when I read this thread is the fantastic mr fox movie, though.. What the cuss?

[bjorker]

Weird. I definitely would not think twice about "what the heck".

[mattemma04]

I am not bothered by the use of those words. I do let my kids know that OTHERS may get upset,so they will have to deal with them if they choose to talk like that.

I do draw the line though with racial/ethnic/religious slurs however mild. I don't like those used.

[crunchy_mommy]

Interesting, I never thought of "heck" as a pseudo-curseword... or "crap" though lately I can see why that might be offensive once I think about the meaning. We don't curse in our house and we don't allow "OMG" or "freakin" etc. but "oh my gosh/goodness" or "what the heck" or "oh crap" never bothererd me... I do think it's tough to communicate effectively without using some of these words because their alternatives are so rarely used... and I would seriously LOL if someone said "Heavens to Betsy" like a pp mentioned -- I've never heard someone say that

[VillageMom6]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy

I would seriously LOL if someone said "Heavens to Betsy" like a pp mentioned -- I've never heard someone say that

Hee! That was me. I LOL at myself when I say it!

I'm tellin' ya... it can be fun to be more creative with pseudo-cursing. Anyone can low-brow it and say "frickin" or "crap".

I remember an episode of Archie Bunker where he says, "Good night, nurse!", so I use that sometimes.

I did use the old-fashioned, "For the love of Mike!" until a friend said that it was a reference to St. Michael and I didn't want to invoke him in a pseudo-curse.

Now I use, "For the love of monkeys!". Makes no sense, but it feels good to spit it out sometimes.

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by VillageMom6

Now I use, "For the love of monkeys!". Makes no sense, but it feels good to spit it out sometimes.

Hahahaha DS loves monkeys, I bet he'd get a kick out of that, I just might have to use it!!!

[ThisCat]

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[DisplacedYooper]

My DH and I cleaned up our language when DS, just turned three, calmly informed us one day that "F*** is another work for D*mmit."

But, I have no problem with "What the heck" and "Dang it" while DH really does for some reason....

[karemore]

I think it sounds off coming from a young child, but it wouldn't bother me from an older child.

DH and I don't swear, and our families and friends don't swear in front of children. I didn't hear people swear growing up either.

DD says "what the racket". I have no idea where she got that, but we all say it now.

[phathui5]

Originally Posted by geekgolightly

I get this to a certain degree, but I guess you have to pick and choose how much you want to be yourself vs how much you want to kowtow to another family's sense of what is right and wrong.

For us, it isn't kowtowing, as I generally think that people sound like morons when they curse, so I discourage my children from doing it.

[dmpmercury]

What the heck would not pass my radar. I don't even have an issue with actual curse words in the right context. I think they have a time and place and I have no problem with using curse words on occasion in the right context. I do not want them to be used in a hateful way or to make others feel bad. I also don't want them to be used where they don't belong like when they get used in every other sentence and get used as part of everyday conversation.

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy

Interesting, I never thought of "heck" as a pseudo-curseword...

I don't normally curse and never say the 'f-word' (it bothers me and I notice when others say it. I wish it wasn't so common and accepted actually) I do say 'What the heck' and so does my son. I never even imagined it as a substitute for wtf.

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy

and I would seriously LOL if someone said "Heavens to Betsy" like a pp mentioned -- I've never heard someone say that

I do say this around the house! (I don't think I've said it in public but it may have come out a few times.) My grandmother used to say it and I think it is goofy. It makes my children laugh. But then my family used to say a lot of strange phrases...Growing up, if we said 'so what?' my mom always said 'sew buttons on your underpants'

[tjjazzy]

i don't really mind that my 4 yo says "what the heck?" but i try to remind him that's something he says around me and not really at school or summer program or around other kids. some parents might not like him teaching their kids to "swear."

[Joyster]

At first reaction, I might be a little shocked, but thinking on it, I'd rather hear kids say "what the heck!" or "crap" than have them call each other names like stupid or idiot. One of DS1's friends resorts to calling him those names whenever he gets angry, which sadly is way too often for DS1's liking these days. I try to keep my language very clean because it's a slippery slope for me (I can cuss with the best of them) mind you there's a few times while driving that I've let a few choice words go.

I remember last xmas, my 4 year old told me that I was "f*cking with" him when I asked him to do something. We had to get him to repeat himself several times (which probably didn't help) because we were so shocked. DH immediately looked at me! Yeesh! Turns out he heard it from one of our recent guests who was 10 and I'm sure picked up the phrase from his father (who is a great and educated guy, but can keep up with me in the cussing department *G*). Fortunately he dropped that pretty quickly!