A swear word is only a swear word if somebody decides it becomes one. Every "bad" word I know originally had a decent connotation, and then someone decided to add a nasty definition. Other than teaching my children the third commandment about using the Lord's name properly, I didn't feel the need to sit my kids down and hand them a list of words they can't say. They're not going to know a word is "bad" unless someone tells them it is. And someone did just that.
Chloe has a song she really likes (there's more to tell about it, but I'm not allowed to yet), "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. She was over at her friend's house and told her about this song she likes. Her friend told her that was a bad song because it has a bad word in it. So Chloe came home and told me about it. I shrugged it off, but then she brought it up again the next day. This time I told her I didn't know the song well enough to know if it had a bad word in it, let alone what it was. Then she asks, "Is it 'damn'"? I said, "I don't know if that's in the song, but that's not a nice word to say." So now I was in a position where I had to explain the whole "swear word" thing. I explained how there are some words that people use because they don't know how to express themselves any better. I gave an example of how I would express frustration, but told her others might just say "Oh, [insert grunt]." And just as I grunted Sophie yells, "Damn!"
That was the end of my lesson.
2 comments:
I think you're right on with "there are some words that people use because they don't know how to express themselves any better". I picked up a paperback at a used book sale a couple weeks ago, and someone had used whiteout on all the swear words. While I chuckled at (and approved of) their effort, all it really did was draw attention to the words. It's frustrating that so many artists and writers think they have to use swear words to get their point across. It's getting worse all the time. (I'll get down off my soapbox now before I'm tempted to swear!)
AHHH! I hate those words. Monty had a first grader cus him out a few weeks ago! He said he was shocked! Her in Cali it's so big! It's like just another word! I love the way your explained them to your girls! I'm going to do the same thing when the time comes. Monty always just says, if they don't hear it at home they won't use it. HA!! I had to laugh that Sophie repeated you! I remember the first swear word I said. I repeated it off TV at a friends house. I had no idea it was a bad word. I was so embarrassed! Anyway...you're awesome!
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