I stand at the curb, watching the big yellow school bus make its way around the corner, signaling that it’s almost time for my daughter, Mia, to come home.
When she finally hops off, she tosses her heavy backpack at me. It may seem a bit rude to an outsider, but it’s part of our quirky routine. I try to catch it while dodging a potential head injury from the load of books inside. Mia also carries her violin, and together, we stroll back to the house.
“I know five bad words,” she announces, her eyes wide with mischief.
“Awesome,” I reply, caught off guard. The thought of her using any of them sends a chill down my spine. “What are they?”
“I’d never say them,” she assures me.
“Okay, that’s good to hear.” I’m relieved, even if it’s not the response I expected. “But how did you find out about them?”
“From the bus, mostly, and sometimes at school.”
She then lists the words, starting with S, F, D, B, and H. I’m surprised that “damn,” “bitch,” and “hell” made the cut. After years of working in a fast-paced environment, I’ve become desensitized; nothing anyone could say would lift my blood pressure even a notch.
Interestingly, it seems the sting of swearing has faded over time. For instance, in the classic film Gone With the Wind, Clark Gable’s iconic line was nearly censored due to the word “damn.” Fast forward to 1972, and George Carlin was famously pointing out the seven words you couldn’t say on television, which would raise quite a few eyebrows today. Nowadays, you can hear swearing all over mainstream TV shows—just one episode of Girls would cover it all!
I remember my own childhood vividly; hearing those “bad words” for the first time was thrilling, even if I didn’t understand their full meaning. Peer pressure was real, and I wonder if Mia faces the same challenges. Reflecting on my past, I realize how hurtful we could be, tossing around words like “fag” or “retarded” without a thought. The thought of someone making Mia cry? Unbearable.
A few weeks later, we’re cuddled up on the couch watching Full House. I have to admit, I owe an apology to anyone I teased for watching that show back in the day—it’s actually heartwarming. In one episode, D.J. throws a surprise birthday party for her friend Kimmy, but they end up arguing. The next day, Kimmy calls D.J. a “geek-burger,” which seemed to be the worst insult the writers could use.
“Hey Mia,” I ask jokingly, “Am I a geek-burger?”
She nods, eyes glued to the screen, and I can’t help but chuckle. Hitting pause, I say, “I’m proud of you for steering clear of bad words, but what truly matters is being kind with your words.”
“Why’s that?” she asks.
“Because some words are deemed bad just because they sound unpleasant, but the worst words are the ones that hurt people’s feelings without a reason,” I explain.
She gives a thoughtful nod. Honestly, I may be a geek-burger, but it seems she gets the message.
In conclusion, while swearing may seem like a big deal, the real focus should be on teaching our children to be kind with their words and to understand the impact language can have on others. If you’re interested in more about parenthood and family life, check out this insightful article. Also, for those curious about the at-home insemination process, you can find more information at this reliable source. For pregnancy-related inquiries, head over to this excellent resource.