My husband swears a lot. So do I. It wasn’t always that way for me. I used to live in a very rural part of the U.S. where it was unheard of to hear a child cursing or swearing. Then we moved to California when I was 16. *EVERYONE* at school used words I’d never even heard of. As one of my boyfriends said, “You can learn 20 new words for ‘pussy.'”
Two years at that public school, and I came out swearing like a sailor. Old habits are hard to break.
So anyway, around the time when our oldest kiddo was 3 years old, I was sitting next to him and watching him play when he became frustrated about something. And while he was trying to fix it, I heard him sigh and say, “G** D*****T!” I blinked. It happened a bunch more times in the following weeks, and husband was around to hear those too. We both looked at each other and sighed.
I know I’ve said that a couple of times. But not very often. My husband does say it far more frequently, usually while ranting at an incompetent driver.
Anyway, that was about two years ago. We’ve been more careful lately, and so far, it seems to have disappeared from his lexicon.
The other night, we were in the living room, and something frustrated my husband. I can’t remember what it was now. And he let a cuss word slip. I reminded him to be wary of his speech. Husband retorted, “He’s gonna hear them eventually anyway. Are you going to shelter him for the rest of his life? Are you going to ban him from using those words ever?”
I said, “I know he’s going to hear them eventually. However, I really want him to learn other words before he learns those.”
We at least came to an agreement that some cuss words can be very useful for emphasis. However, we agreed that it is far better to acquire the ability to discuss things without them first, and then learn to insert them where they will have the most impact.
Aw hell! Even my husband and I are still learning that last part.
Mission San Jose, May 2005
