Alright, before diving into the topic, I have to confess something. I find it utterly amusing when little kids curse. I mean, it’s hard not to laugh! I know that chuckling at a child’s swearing is probably not the best response, but I just can’t help it. And when it comes to my own child, sometimes I manage to keep a straight face long enough to escape his hearing range before bursting into laughter. But let’s be real—it’s not always possible.
In my opinion, swearing is just another type of word. As someone who works with language, I recognize that there are genuinely harmful words, like racial slurs, but when it comes to other expletives, I fail to see the big deal. For instance, why is “heck” seen as less acceptable than “hell”? It’s just a word at the end of the day.
Of course, I understand that words carry meaning, but swear words are some of the most flexible terms in our language. It’s all about context, and that’s what I try to instill in my son. If he’s going to use a swear word, he should know how to use it appropriately. And let me tell you, he’s got that down pat.
His go-to phrase is “What the heck?” Now, in the grand scheme of things, that’s pretty mild. However, the frequency with which he repeats it drives me nuts. I don’t go around saying “heck” repeatedly; I might let one slip and move on. But for him, it’s like a challenge to see how many times he can say it in a short span before I completely lose it.
For those curious, my breaking point is about three times. At that point, I turn to him and say, “Are you serious? If you say that again, I’m going to scream!” Thankfully, he knows I mean it, so he usually stops—at least until about twenty minutes have passed, and then he’s back at it again. What the actual heck? Sometimes, I think he’s just trying to annoy me.
I wish he would mix it up once in a while for fun. I have always been a fan of swearing; it’s just a part of my vocabulary. While I have no qualms about dropping an f-bomb or exclaiming “oh no!” when frustrated, my child never really uses those phrases. There was that one time we missed the bus, and I exclaimed, “AW, NO!” to which he responded, “No what, Mommy?” After I chuckled (again, I can’t help it!), I explained my frustration about missing the bus. He just shrugged and pressed the crosswalk button. For days, I held out hope he’d shout “OH, NO!” in frustration, but nope—just a constant stream of “What the heck?”
As annoying as it can be, he nails the timing every single time. His use of the phrase is so natural that people often don’t even realize what he’s saying. It’s become as instinctive for him as calling me “Mom,” and apparently, it’s easier for him than saying “please.”
Naturally, if I sense he’s getting a bit too carried away, I have to step in. I remind him to tone it down and suggest he try a different expression for a while. He doesn’t resist; sometimes he’ll avoid saying it for weeks before I catch him muttering, “What the heck?” to himself, which makes me chuckle again.
Ultimately, swearing is all about context. If he were running around dropping f-bombs left and right, that would be a different story—and I’d probably be a bundle of nerves trying to keep a straight face. I also remind him that using his favorite phrase is fine when I’m around, but to keep it to himself otherwise. He’s surprisingly good at this—at least, if he’s swearing when I’m not around, no one has ever mentioned it to me. They might have just been too busy laughing.
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Summary:
Navigating a child’s swearing can be both amusing and frustrating. While some parents find it hilarious when kids let loose with curse words, others may struggle with the frequency and context in which they’re used. Teaching children the appropriate moments for swearing, while also maintaining a sense of humor, can help balance the situation.
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