(originally posted on May 21, 2015)
Despite my wife’s and my own potty-mouth, we have amazingly made it five years as parents without our daughter learning or repeating any of our favorite words. I think there was one time when she was just beginning to form words, she repeated the sounds that make up the word “crap” - but no harm no foul, it was gone the next moment never to be uttered again.
At an NYC park/playground, there’s any number of colorful words being flung about by kids of all ages (up to and including adult-aged adults). Still K’s verbiage has remained mostly age appropriate. The other day while filling water balloons at the drinking fountain, a little boy- maybe a year older, if that, than K was asking for help filling his up- which he had picked up off the ground and I could see it was broken. I still tried and told him it was broken- at which point he insisted it work.
He took over, was unsuccessful and sprayed water all over us the were standing by, and came out with, “Oh SHIIIIIT!! Oh shit man, we’re all wet.”
Pretending it didn’t happen, I answered with, “Okay, our turn!”
Miss K climbs up and starts filling up her balloon, which of course slip and sprays water, prompting this exchange:
K: Oh Shit!!
Me: I don’t think we should say that, sweetie.
K: Say what??
Me: Nothing.
K: I said SHUT. Ohh shuuut…
Me: Ok.
K: I said… shot?
Me: Ok.
K: Wait, what did I say again… the first time?
Me: I don’t remember.
And she hasn’t said it since, so one win for innocence!! I am more than positive it won’t last for much longer, but I’m not ready to be the swear-word police. Mostly, I’m not ready to hear these kinds of words come out of my little girl’s mouth. So many milestones already come and gone- many of which we couldn’t wait for. This one can wait. I’m not ready for this SHIT.