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Something I learned long ago is our little ones look up to us as role models and they do mimic the things we say and do.
I am not a person who uses curse words, well very little anyway. I don’t drop the “F” word ever, I don’t say “S#!@” but on occasion I do say “Damn it”. Funny thing is Luke has taught me to say “barnacles” because he says that often and it is a Sponge Bob phrase.
I should have learned years ago. When Luke was two I said “Damn it” often. Sure enough at the age of two Luke started saying “damn it” and he said it often. I felt very bad about teaching my child to use this word. From that point on I became very conscious about what I said and really made an effort not to say these things.
However I am human (not perfect) and it is one of those things that slip’s out when I get really frustrated. Typically occurs at times when my child has decided to dump the dog’s water bowl all over the floor for the third time. Yes, it is these times when the “Damn it” flies from my tong and it comes across in a very frustrated tone.
Wouldn’t you know it, at the age of two, Thomas dropped the word “damn it”. He was getting mad about something and sure enough in his moment of anger he yelled it out. I instantly corrected Thomas and this has only encouraged him to say it more. At that point I ignored him and he stopped saying it.
It is just funny to me (OK not funny) how both my boys have learned this word from me and at the very young age of two. My efforts are good but obviously not good enough and I must try harder.
I grew up in a house with parents who cursed all the time but we were not allowed to say those words. I always thought that was a double standard and I still to this day feel like it is a double standard. Because I feel this way, I need to set an example and not use this type of language in front of my kids. Good news is my parents have grown with age and also curb their words especially around the kids.
Have your kids ever picked up a behavior from you that you wished they had not?
7 Comments Welcome:
When I get frustrated, I make a sort of groan....and now my kids do it too! Oy!
oh lord, yes! it must be an inborn trait to copy my bad stuff:) I love the Barnacles idea. Your kids sound so sweet, Nina!
i know i'm terrible but i say a lot of bad words. i hear what you're saying about it being a double standard. but i've always said that there are a lot of things grown ups can do that kids cant. trinity wouldn't say a bad word to save her life. zoe is a whole 'nother story. i know i should try to watch it better than i do but at this moment though, it's not exactly at the top of my priority list. you know me, so you know what i mean.
one day i'll work on this! lol
oh not yet, but I am sure she will soon!
It's really awful hearing ourselves through our kids, isn't it?? Yikes!
Oh man, I could have written this post almost word for word! Our Dammit came from Hubby, who says it to the dog, we just didn't realize how much. Yea, nothing quite as endearing as a 3 year old spitting that word out in a reasturant or somewhere. We have really encouraged the Barnacles word if our children are angry or frustrated, it just sounds so much more child like!
HA! Okay, I do think it is kind of funny too! I say the s word more often than any other, but now I just try to say "sit" right afterwards. As in, "Oh, sit, sit, sit, sit..." just so that Joseph thinks that's what I say...
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