Is It a Bad Word, Mommy?
Do you curse in front of your child? Are there times that your child accidentally hears some inappropriate words? Are your kids prone to hearing such words in your place?
Kids are sponges, they can just absorb any words they hear and curiously say them. New words always interest them the most. Now, without explaining to them that those words aren't good, you could be in trouble. It's not really good to hear children swearing. Though it sounds funny, no it's not.
Jigz knows by now and was thought at an early stage that swearing is bad. Though he might hear it he knows that he shouldn't say it. While Tia because she's young and innocent not know really what bad words are.
I will never forget the first swear words Tia said. We are in a taxi on our way to Pattaya in Thailand after a long journey from Northern Ireland when Chloe suddenly blurted,
"Oh shit!"
That's after spilling her drinks all over her dress.
The next time, the taxi suddenly stopped. Tia out of the blue exclaimed,
"Oh, shit!"
And everyone laughs. And lol I can't stop but I did as well. And Tia laughs. But that's wrong. Since we are laughing she will think that that's a happy good word to say. I try to get serious and tell Tia, that that's not a nice word to say. That's a bad word. And Chloe told her that "She's old already so she's allowed". But still not a good one.
Even ask us if she can say it if she gets older. I told her, No. And ask me why? And it goes on and on.
She was only 3 at that time and now that she's 6, every time that she hears a different word that she isn't sure is bad, she will ask me,
"Mommy is that a bad word?"
One time Mum is watching tv at the house and she really gets mad as it's about the child dying at the hands of his father's gf and even the Dad doesn't care about him. And Mum is raging, she shouted,
"F*cking B*stard you!"
And Tia was on her way up the house when she heard it and she thought Mum is talking to her and she said,
"I'm not a bastard, Lola!"
Then Mum apologized to her and that's for the man on the tv she's talking about and that is not a good word to say. Mum explained to her why she said that and Tia remind her, not to say it again.
She heard Daddy talking on the phone and he said the F* word. And Tia comes to me.
"Mommy, mommy! Daddy says a bad word!"
And when I ask what word is it he said,
It starts with 'F' and she tries to sound the F (ffff) but not the whole word because that's a bad word and she's not allowed to say bad words.
Mommy, you say it. It's okay, you're a big girl you can say that word.
"Ffff ffff"
Oh, she's a laugh! 🤣
She even asks one time,
"Mommy, can I say a bad word, just ONE?"
And she said, "Oh shoot!" Haha, I said that's okay that one. And the other which I love the most,
"Oh, my piggy heart!"
I know I can't stop her from hearing and being exposed to swear words. It's everywhere and I can say some too. But as a parent, we should guide our children and should explain that there are words that are bad to say. We just have to be honest and not overreact. Address it calmly in the way your toddler should understand. We can find new words to use instead.
Do you have any set of story words with your kids? Or any experience with swear words with young ones? Would love to hear it!
Thank you for reading.
I do not have kids but this story did crack me up. I love their innocence and coachability. You are such a great mum!