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Mom Arrested for Cursing at Kid
Earmuff the kids – we’re going to let out an f-bomb.
A mom from Indiana, Pa. (which in and of itself is a town name we find a bit confusing) was arrested this week for cursing at her kid.
Oh come on, you’ve NEVER been there? Good for you.
The cops, of course, say this was more than a just your run of the mill “da–it,” however. The mom allegedly let out a string of expletives that made sailors blush, prompting a cop who heard the incident outside a video store to approach the family and hand mom a citation for disorderly conduct.
The stories diverge here – she told the Pittsburgh TV station that she was directing her words at an adult she was mad at (not sure if that adult was someone she was on the phone with or was actually there?). The police say she told THEM she was yelling at her ten-year-old because the girl accused her younger sister of stealing something from the store – an accusation Tammy Kay Cronan Smith said was false . . . hence her anger.
If it’s the latter, I’d agree it’s technically emotional abuse. . . if taken to an extreme. One “G-D it, kid” is not kind or called for, but it’s also pretty human.
If it’s the former, really, you can be arrested for that? Actually yes . . . talk to the Florida man arrested two years ago for “cursing near children” under the public morals code or the woman arrested for cursing at her overflowing toilet (she had four young kids) inside her own home.
Then again, we can get the swearing off the streets, but it’s not really going to do much. A study by the Parents Children’s Council found even kids who just watch “kids” channels hear words that are slightly offensive an average of once an hour. Turn to another channel, and crank up the dial of “offensiveness.”
It’s not GOOD to curse in front of your kids, but is it reasonable to expect it might someday happen? Realistically, yes.
I know I faced the neighbors with a bit of embarrassment the other day after realizing our bathroom window was open when I let out a totally frustrated rant at the cat for rubbing up against my freshly painted wall . . . and realized they probably thought I was cursing at my daughter (she was upstairs, so no, I wasn’t).
Do you think what she told the TV station justifies her actions?
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Someone Special commented on Sep 03 09 at 11:56 amThis is a good story, but overall I find it very discriminating towards the woman who cursed. Don’t get me wrong… cursing is not good around young persons (children/teens/etc.), but if they’re going to arrest the woman for letting out a bad word – why is Rap not illegal – why are comedians allowed to curse in public bars/clubs??? – I hear f-bombs all over the place! C’mon now, sounds like the cop just needed to get their kicks in for the day – or they just took offense to the woman using “God” in the sentence if that’s what your “G-D” word is? – separate church and state (not in this country!). If the problem was with abuse to the child it shouldn’t have been a citation for misorderly conduct but something more leaning towards a probable cause (leaning towards abuse). Opinions are to be shared, and I’ve shared mine – don’t take it personally! :)
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Sep 03 09 at 11:59 amCops use disorderly conduct as a BS catchall for stuff they don’t like.
cocobean commented on Sep 03 09 at 12:12 pmI’m not saying that it is acceptable to swear at a child but why are swear words so bad!? I mean they are just words. Our actions are what put the power behind them. If the woman was degrading her children by swearing at them that is one thing but if she was just letting a string of swears go then I don’t see the problem. I’m pretty sure that swearing is covered in free speech. I respect that other people don’t swear but really people they’re just words.
Kikiriki commented on Sep 03 09 at 12:33 pmOh for %#$@&’s sake, you’ve got to be kidding me.
Larissa commented on Sep 03 09 at 12:34 pmI agree with Mistress. This is police abuse of power. It may have been a parenting fail moment, but it wasn’t worthy of arrest.
Sue commented on Sep 07 09 at 5:40 pmWOW!! I have heard woment at the local walmart curse randomly as their two or three kids watch on but this is the first for me! I replace curse words with vegatables so my daughter doesnt catch me using them. Mostly because I dont want her to pick it up from me and use it herself. Certainly using them against her has never occurred to me. To this mom I have to say if your daughter grows up and slits your throat as you sleep dont anyone ask why….the answer is obvious the very person a child looks up to and relies on for shelter is the agressor…what can you expect from that child? JUST WOW!
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