I should be ashamed, but I'm just... not

I don't really watch my words in front of Alex.  We don't have a "swear jar" and I'd never ask anyone else to censor their language in front of him either.  I'm just not sensitive to words.  I never have been, though I thought I would be when I grew my "mom ears", but no.  Of course, we don't exactly swear like sailors in our household anyway. 

To me, words are words.  I'm not particularly sensitive to certain words, and I don't want my son to be either.  I think when you put an emphasis on "naughty" words, they stand out more.  To me, they just blend in, no more special than any other.  And I absolutely REFUSE to encourage my son to say the "baby word" substitute (or, as I like to say, "Utahize" his language) because I think that's just stupid.  What's the difference between saying "shoot" or "shit" when the feeling behind it is the same?

*I will draw the line at racist slurs, which he never hears at home anyway*

That said, as my son's language develops, I do intend to have conversations with him about appropriate language in public.  A lot of people are sensitive to language and I feel that in raising a respectful little boy, he should understand that some words, people just don't want to hear.  Anything goes at home though, my only requirement is that he doesn't do any name calling.  It's one thing to swear, it's another to do it with the intent to hurt someone.  That is not allowed.

That said, my son is already developing a colorful vocabulary.  Some of his most recent additions include:

• "Damn! Damn! Damn!"  when frustrated



• "Oh sheet!"



• "Ima sheetball sammich"  Obviously, I have to stop calling him a shitball sandwich when he does something naughty.  Mommy needs to watch the name calling.  I do it with love though :)



• "Oh mah gawd!"  spoken with a southern drawl