My Potty Mouth -- Suggestions For Help????

[calgal007]

I have a potty mouth. There, I've said it. Swear words leap off my tongue at the most inopportune moments. Oddly, not in front of children, but when I'm around adults the swear words pop out. Can anyone help me take control of my foul mouth? Should I reach for a bar of soap????? All suggestions considered. . .

[T. Elena]

I probably shouldn't be dishing out advice, given my poor progress on my own potty mouth, but here goes anyway....

Seems to me that you need to replace the words with something that is both reasonably inoffensive, but still satisfying to say. Something with bite. Let's face it, when you're finally ready to leave the house after spending 45 minutes getting shoes on your toddler and then you realize you cannot find your keys anywhere, it just doesn't cut it to say "oh golly!" When I'm really bad off, I find it sometimes works to add a few choice consonants to a heartfelt, gutteral -- almost primal -- growling kind of noise. "Grrrrr..." like I'm going to show those keys what's what when I finally lay my hands on them....

[jasnjakesmama]

Hello, my name is Jennifer and I have a potty mouth.
Actually I have a mouth like a truck driver is more like it. And the terrible thing is I don't censor it in front of my children. I'm too used to it.
I come from a family of drinking, cursing, fighting Irish people. We all have filthy mouths.
I have no advice but I definately want help on overcoming this.
Tips?

~Jennifer

[calgal007]

I have heard that if you wear a rubber band around your wrist, and give yourself a good snap with it every time you swear, that it works to stop the bad habbit. Snap, snap, snap. . . I'm going to try it for a couple of days. Hope it helps me and anyone else who tries it. Calgal

[Brandonsmama]

I agree, it helps to make up words. Mine are not very creative though, I substitute! Like "OH SHIRT!" or SHITAKE!!!! I also growl really loud, it kind of feels like swearing. Of cours there are times when my potty mouth has just taken control of me and I have let rip!!! I always apologize to my ds if he hears, and tell him mom is trying to not use nasty words. I don't like to swear in front of him, but in the grand scheme of things, I am sure there are much worse things I could do.

[menanny]

SHITAKE! Oh, that's beautiful!! My favorites (being a reformed potty mouth around the children -- the adults in my life get to live with the real thing) are FRICK AND FRACK and DAGGONIT works quite well. This has been an ongoing issue in our home as DH does not restrain in front of the kids and I think we have a social obligation. Social because MOST people do not consider it OK for kids to say damn & shit while angry. However, since DH refuses to conform, I try not to call cuss words "BAD" words. (actually, he's gotten a lot better at it since we worked out a mutually agreeable sexual enticement ) Anyway, we refer to them as "adult" words which are inappropriate for children to use. Because, you know, you don't have to go far to hear shit, damn or even fuck. I'd hate for the kids to view *people* who curse as "bad". After all, I curse like a sailor and I'm a great person!!

Thanks again for Shitake. I'm adding that to my collection.

[Lindy]

My father was Irish and a sailor!!!! And boy, could he cuss. I have found his words flowing out of my mouth at times. But, I stopped when I heard my sweet little girl cuss like a sailor in front of a minister friend! Now, I say gosh darn it or something benign like that. Just remembering my little girl cussing up a blue streak makes me think twice before I let loose.

[maddysmommy]

Thanks for all the great advice - I'm a swearer, and have been for a long time, which didn't go over very well in Catholic school. I grew up on a farm where shit was not a swear word, just a fact of life. I have a six month old, and I am trying to curb my habits before she becomes the class potty mouth! Wish me luck, as I do all of you!

[menanny]

Good job, Maddysmom!! You're addressing the issue before it is even much of a problem --- I mean with your baby only being 6 months old. Another thing I should add is that a counselor friend once commented that cuss words have a certain energy with them that can be too much for kids. It's kind of like exposing them to more than they can handle. We all slip up, but it sounds like you want to protect your baby from something beyond her. She's lucky to have a mom like you!

[juicylucy]

My favourite swear-substitute word is SHIITE MUSLIMS!! Very loud. Or RUBBER DUCK IT. Lame huh. But it works for me.

[ilex]

Oh my Buddha, this thread is hilarious. thank you.
~Holly

[emmaline]

I'm worst in the car but try to remember to scream BUCKWHEAT at the F***WITS who bother me, it works great most of the time