This thing has been on my mind for quite some time now. I am no goody two shoes. Before I had a child I cursed like hell. My nieces and nephews could attest to that. The ones in the vernacular, because when uttered that way, the feelings were more intense. Whether said because I was mad or because I was crazy telling a really hilarious story, there were serious expletives. Well, I did not care about offending anyone then. Frankly, I never thought I could actually offend anybody at all, or that it was detrimental to a child's well being, until I had a child of my own. That was me being insensitive.
All of us, regardless if you're parents or not. When you hear a child say foul words, you immediately censure that child's mouth and say how saying those words are bad. You don't have to deny it. You have done it once in your life. Do not be ashamed. I think it was a right thing to do. Although, I know you carry a guilt. Because how can you restrain a child for saying obscene words when you yourself say such profanities? Your words will just remain innocuous remarks.
Since having a child, my "foul mouth" days were restricted, more like hidden. I have learned to curse using s-p-e-l-l-i-n-g. Sometimes a bad habit is so hard to take out of your system. But, hey for the sake of my child, I tried to change. I am proud to say, at four years old, when children are more susceptible to these things and act like a sponge, she DOES not say bad words. I once caught her saying "what the heck?". I say that too, although I could not remember saying it in front of her or within her earshot. I blame it on television or youtube, people around us, me. Because I let her watch youtube unsupervised. I'm still in awe how four year old kids operate a computer and are able to watch videos or play on line games. I learned to operate a personal computer when I was in highschool, and it was very limited.
Have you ever seen one of the most powerful advertisements about quitting smoking? It was from Thailand. Children approached unaffected people smoking in the streets and asked for cigarettes themselves, sometimes a light. The reactions of the smokers were priceless. Of course they refused to give it to children. They even said that smoking is bad and that you could die, you could have emphysema, you will look old, things like that. You know, real things that happen when you smoke. The children were trying to mirror those adults. They were bad examples. So at the end of the ad, children gave notes to the smokers, something like " you care about me, please take care of yourself" and left a number to call to help them quit the vice. Bottom line, We cannot preach what we do not practice. In the eyes of a child our insipid piece of advice is worthless.
So, when did our parents stop reprimanding us about these foul mouth of ours?
P.S.Notice how it's "our" and not "yours". Because I still do it, but I have mellowed down. Well, a teeny,tiny bit.
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