I have been in a quandary over my kids who seem unable to string a sentence together without using bloody, shit, crap and my eldest son’s frequent use of the “F” word. 
I have taught my kids to use swearing judiciously what I mean is sometimes swearing just damn well makes you feel better in certain situations, but, if you have to use a swear word when there are literally thousands of other words in the english dictionary then it shows ignorance.
I admit I express my anger or frustration with someone or something by swearing.
Anyone who doesn’t swear – move over because I have yet to meet a clean mouth but should we swear in front of our children?
I have become increasingly annoyed with the use of swear words in our household, from the aforementioned to the blatantly rude.
If my husband is telling off one of the children, does the word shit or your f*****g useless have to be in every sentence?
And when I attempt to point out the overuse of swear words, I am reprimanded for having sworn at someone who chose not indicate at a roundabout on the school run.
My retort was that although there is no excuse, I felt justified because the chap was a complete idiot for not using his indicators, I wasn’t actually swearing directly at anyone, merely showing my exasperation.
A swear word in a sentence reinforces an argument or justification it helps get the point over, and whilst I do not advocate swearing in front of the kids I am well aware that they probably got to know most of them by the time they were ten.
Having boys usually means it is never too long before a fight ends up in a war of swear words.
As I was preparing dinner one night, I heard the boys arguing, ‘you are a c**t’, the word hung in the air, I stood, motionless, my mind blank, what should my response be?
There was no denying the fact it was the C word.
The word cunt is the ultimate profanity, a filthy dirty word that can only be used when all other words have been expended.
I confess to using the word when I believe it is absolutely necessary for emphasis when I am describing something or someone to my husband to unleash my anger or irritation but certainly never in public and definitely not in front of my kids.
What upset me more was the fact that it was used, there are after all plenty of less explicit words. It may seem like I have double standards but this word has never been used in earshot of our children.
I remember the first ‘dirty word’ I hurled at my younger brother, ‘bastard’, I was no more than nine or ten.
We were arguing and I had heard it at school and thought it was cool to use it even though I had no idea what it meant. I hadn’t bargained on my father being at the bottom of the stairs.
He shouted at me to come downstairs, expecting a whack on my backside, unsurprisingly, I got a good telling off making me die of embarrassment.
I wasn’t told what the word meant and why in that situation it was wrong.
If children swear and we hear them using such words surely it makes parenting sense to explain to them what the word means and why it wasn’t or isn’t the most appropriate word.
Some of you reading this may be disgusted and appalled by the use of any swear word, but they exist and you will find them in the english dictionary.
I love words, I love our language including all the swear words and I use all of them within reason at the right time and place.
There is nothing like saying ‘fuck it’ when you bang your knee or shit when you forget something. I also love the obsession americans have with ‘arsehole’, pronounced ass-hole.
I can remember my youngest son, who was three at the time going through the phase of repeating everything he heard, he used a word that even now just makes me cringe on a holiday flight to Spain.
He shouted out as loudly as he could, ‘’vagina, vagina vagina’ much to the laughter of those who were in earshot.
I don’t use swear words as insults they aren’t hurled at people to be offensive or for the sake of it often swearing helps reduce the pain you feel when you bang into something.
They are also effective for demonstrating your feelings.
As parents I see it as my job to teach my kids the nuances of swearing, what words mean and why they are not always acceptable to use because I believe it is all part of the growing up process.
Kids swear in front of their peers so they feel accepted and equal.
I can insist that my children do not swear at each other or at their parents but if they hear us swear then there is no validity in me admonishing them.
Children who hear their parents swear will also swear if they think it is the norm, telling a child off for swearing is hypocritical.
How do we strike a balance?
I have given a lot of thought about swearing in our household:-
Is swearing a problem or becoming one in our house?
How often do we, as parents, swear in ear shot of the kids?
How often do I hear my kids swear?
How do I react when I hear them swearing?
As parents, are we in danger of becoming complacent and swearing for the sake of it, irrespective of whether the children are around us?
Considering all of the above I can genuinely say yes we have a problem.
Whilst I cannot lay claim to being holier than thou, if we are not careful, swear words will become the new standard and I am bloody well uncomfortable with that.
