Are teens who swear really more aggressive?

I heard quite a few swear words growing up, in particular the f-word as it happens to be my father’s favorite. (Hi dad! How the eff are you?) I didn’t think anything of it, because that was the environment to which I was accustomed. I thought cursing was normal.

@&$$!!! Where are my @&$#@*! keys?

I must admit that the f-word has grown to become a personal favorite of mine as well. I use it for emphasis, to put a finer point on things. To let off steam. To cope. Should I be ashamed of this, as the granddaughter of a genteel Southern belle who wouldn’t be caught dead without full makeup and a proper pedicure at the grocery store? Probably, but I’m not.

Continue reading »

Tweet

25

Pin It

Would you let your child swear?

I was as horrified as any parent would be the first time I heard my 18-month-old daughter swear. She was, of course, repeating a colorful phrase I had just uttered.

And so it goes. I’ve made numerous effort to clean up my language, but none of them very successful. Maybe you think cursing is cute and maybe you think it’s an ugly habit. I don’t think about it much at all, but I do it plenty.

For a few years so did my kids. I’ve felt vaguely guilty about that, but Aaron Traister has sold me on the virtues of a raising a potty-mouthed child. Next time my kid shouts, “Damn!” after stubbing her toe at the playground, I’ll smile with pride instead of rushing to correct her.

I doubt it will make much difference though.

Continue reading »

Tweet

13

Pin It

At some point, nearly every parent has the agonizing and possibly amusing experience of seeing their small child pour forth an obscenity. Her Bad Mother shares a hilarious account of coming up against this with her own five-year-old, who reasoned that if she met someone whose name is F***, she should be allowed to use the word to call them by their proper name.

I’ve had my own run-ins with kids and cursing, most memorably when my toddler turned my own foul language into a song.

These things can be hilarious, but they’re also a real social problem. No one wants a kid who curses uncontrollably. So what can you do?

Continue reading »

Tweet

0

Pin It

At the age of fourteen, McKay Hatch was fed up with his classmate’s potty mouths. They were, he says, cussing like sailors on a regular basis and most weren’t even aware they were doing it.   He issued a challenge to his trash-talking peers and, to his surprise, they accepted.

This was the beginning of the No Cussing Club at South Pasadena High School in California.  The idea caught on and today the club boasts of thousands of members around the world, all who have taken the No Cussing Challenge.  Continue reading »

Tweet

1

Pin It

There are some of us who wouldn’t be caught dead buying our kid a Hannah Montana doll. Then there are the parents who go on TV and admit it, but complain that their kid’s doll is dropping the F bomb.

They did catch ol’ Miley at the Teen Choice Awards, right?

The flap about the doll is actually quite funny when you watch the news report. Continue reading »

Tweet

1

Pin It

It was like a scene out of A Christmas Story – an eight-year-old girl said a bad word, so Mom put soap in her mouth to wash the filthy words out.

So why are Mom and her boyfriend now sitting in jail? Continue reading »

Tweet

13

Pin It

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. Continue reading »

Tweet

0

Pin It