As a parent, it’s natural to be worried about the language your child uses. The moment I see the familiar yellow school bus turning the corner, my mind races with thoughts of what my daughter will share when she steps off.
When my daughter, Mia, hops off the bus, she tosses her backpack towards me. It may appear rude, but it’s part of our playful routine—one that involves me trying to catch it before it hits the ground. As we walk home together, she casually mentions, “I know five bad words.”
My heart sinks, and I respond, “Oh really? What are they?”
“I’d never say them,” she assures me, which eases my mind a bit. “But I learned them on the bus and at school.”
Curiosity piqued, I ask, “Can you tell me the letters they start with?”
She lists them off: “S… F… D… B… and H…” It’s a revelation to me that words like damn, bitch, and hell are still on the radar. Having spent years in an environment where profanity was commonplace, I’ve become desensitized to the shock value of such words.
Interestingly, our perception of swearing has shifted over time. For instance, in the classic film Gone With the Wind, the word “damn” nearly got cut due to censorship concerns. Fast forward to George Carlin’s famous 1972 routine about the “seven dirty words,” and you’ll find that many of those terms are now part of everyday vernacular, especially on shows like Girls.
Reflecting on my own childhood, I remember the thrill of using curse words, even if I didn’t fully understand their meanings. Peer pressure was strong, and it often led to unkind name-calling on the playground. I shudder to think about anyone making Mia feel small or hurt.
A few weeks later, while watching Full House, I realize how far the conversation around language has come. After D.J. calls Kimmy a “geek-burger,” I jokingly ask Mia if I’m a “geek-burger” too. She nods, still glued to the screen. I take the opportunity to express that while I’m glad she avoids bad words, it’s even more important to refrain from saying hurtful things.
“Some words are deemed bad just because people don’t want to hear them,” I tell her, “but the truly damaging words are those that hurt others without reason.” She seems to grasp my point, and I feel a sense of relief knowing she’s thinking about the impact of her words.
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In summary, while swearing might not carry the same weight as it once did, the focus should be on teaching children the importance of kindness in their language. It’s essential to foster an environment where they understand the impact of words, not just the taboo of swearing.