Category: Parenting
By: Jasmine Turner
Date: April 9, 2023
I have to confess something upfront: I find it absolutely hilarious when little kids swear. I know, I know, laughing at a child’s inappropriate language is not the best parental response, but I can’t help it. It’s not just a chuckle; I’m talking about genuine belly laughs. This includes my own child, and while I sometimes manage to stifle my laughter until I’m out of earshot, it doesn’t always work out that way. I’m generally okay with my son swearing—until it becomes excessive.
To me, swearing is just another form of expression. As a writer, I’ve come to understand that while some words are undeniably harmful—like racial slurs—others are merely words without the negative weight that society places on them. I’ve never understood why certain words, like “heck,” are deemed inappropriate; in reality, they’re just words.
Of course, I recognize that words carry meaning, and swear words can be quite versatile. The key is context, which is what I strive to teach my son. He’s got a knack for using the phrase “What the heck?” far too often. In the grand scheme of profanity, it’s relatively mild, but what gets to me is how frequently he uses it in such a short span of time. When I swear, I don’t repeat the same word over and over; I might let one emphatic “heck” slip out and then move on. But my son seems to think it’s a challenge to see just how many times he can say it before I lose my cool.
For those curious, the magic number is about three. After that, I’ll say, “Seriously? If you say that again, I’m going to scream.” He knows I mean it, so he usually stops—but it’s not long before he’s back at it, like clockwork. What the actual heck? Sometimes I wonder if he does it just to push my buttons!
I wish he would diversify his vocabulary for the sake of variety. I’m no stranger to swearing; I’ve been using colorful language since my teenage years. However, my son has never seemed interested in utilizing the more expressive words I drop. Once, when we missed the bus and I exclaimed, “Oh, heck!” he turned to me and innocently asked, “Heck what, Mommy?” I couldn’t help but chuckle and explain that I was upset about missing the bus. For days after that, I waited for him to say “Oh, heck” when frustrated, but all I heard was a barrage of “What the heck?”
Despite how annoying it can be, his timing is spot-on. He uses the phrase so naturally that many people don’t even realize he’s swearing. It’s as ingrained in his speech as calling for “Mommy,” and sadly, perhaps more natural than saying “please.” If I notice he’s getting a bit too enthusiastic, I encourage him to tone it down and try other expressions. He accepts this without fuss, occasionally muttering “What the heck?” to himself, which makes me smile.
That’s the thing about swear words; context is everything. If he were to walk around dropping f-bombs, I would be at my wit’s end trying to maintain my composure. Thankfully, he’s good about knowing when and where to use his favorite phrase, though I do remind him to keep it private outside our home. He seems to do just that—or at least, if he does say it elsewhere, nobody has mentioned it to me. They’re probably too busy laughing!
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Summary
Swearing can be a humorous aspect of parenting, especially when children use language unexpectedly. While excessive swearing can be annoying, understanding context is key. It’s essential to strike a balance between allowing freedom of expression and setting boundaries. Parenting is a complex journey, but with a little humor and patience, it can be navigated successfully.