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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To sometimes swear around the children?

96 replies

appletarts · 30/10/2013 19:56

Ok, I think in theory swearing around children is bad but am I a terrible mother for occasionally swearing around my children? I have never ever sworn at them and never ever would. But I sometimes say shit, bollocks or fuck Blush It's usually if I'm frustrated with something or dropped something or if we're really late and I'm getting stressed. It's by no means part of my regular conversation style, maybe once every few days. Children are 4 and 2. Am I a monster?

OP posts:
Heathcliff27 · 30/10/2013 22:48

Am crying @ drive like a twat

madmomma · 30/10/2013 22:53

I swear like a cunt around my teenager and she is allowed to swear freely when we're alone together or with dh. She has never sworn in front of any other adult. She appreciates the fact that she can speak freely as a privilege in her home.With my toddler, I try to not swear in front of them. Unfortunately the odd cunt slips out but so far they haven't noticed.

Ohwhatwitcheryisthis · 30/10/2013 23:04

pmsl at "the odd cunt slips out"
sorry about erratic spelling its this cunting phone. (which recognises all major swears automatically) Grin

Ohwhatwitcheryisthis · 30/10/2013 23:06

oh and dh pulled this faceAngry and said there's nothing funny about that.
miserable twat.

bubalou · 30/10/2013 23:06

My ds tells me off if I even say hell or bloody - if I say bloody hell he really kicks off! He is 5! Blush

I think what happens though is that I swear horrifically when he's not around just to get it all out! Shock

CherryColl1ns · 30/10/2013 23:08

You're not a monster of course. But it's not something to be proud of

juneybean · 30/10/2013 23:10

I don't because I'm a nanny though I do sit in a perpetual state of angst as swear words fly around my head because I know I'm not allowed to say them.

It's a bit like that thing where you want to throw a hot drink when it's in your hand...

honeybeeridiculous · 30/10/2013 23:14

reading these iv remembered when DS was about 4 we were waiting all day for a delivery which came at the end if the day, obviously! id muttered a few choice words under my breath about how long we had to wait etc etc.and generally moaning about having to wait in all day.eventually when lovely delivery man knocked the door DS said "are you the lazy cunt man?" Blush

Fakebook · 30/10/2013 23:20

I thought this is something everyone does occasionally Confused.

I normally swear when I'm driving or if I get frustrated by something. Dd tells me off in the car for saying bad words and that I need to stop it because its not good Grin.

As long as you don't swear all the time and your children know they're bad words and don't copy, then I don't see the harm in doing it.

MrsMook · 31/10/2013 01:57

Swearing was a habit I (mostly) dropped when I went into teaching. On several occasions I've been asked if I swear and I explain that occasionally I do, and save it for special occasions like great pain or when I could see the van was about to drive into my car. I also explain that swearing is special, powerful language and that doing it frequently, it removes it of its meaning. They normally look suprised but impressed with that answer.

I try not to swear infront of the DCs- it's normally pain or gross stupidity of others on the road that causes it to slip out. DS 1 is at the prime age of trying and repeating random new words so the stakes are high at the moment. Shame his new word "castle" sounds like something the baby on "Meet the Parents" repeated.

GruffBillyGoat · 31/10/2013 07:08

Mum swore in front of us all the time, I thought swearing was like alcohol and smoking, adults are allowed to kids must wait.

GruffBillyGoat · 31/10/2013 07:11

Also dad took great joy in teaching us the root of swear words (Store High In Transit, and Fornication Under Consent of King) which takes a bit of the taboo out of it. Not sure if they're true or not, but they make sense.

123Jump · 31/10/2013 07:15

I swear like a trooper under my breath. Loudly when in a rage. It is 'Irish' swearing mostly, which I think sounds a little less awful.
Feck!
For feck sake!
Shite!
Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

My parents and brother were up recently and we played cards with my DC, 9 & 6 year olds were in stitches as my elderly, never miss mass parents swore throughout the game... Go and shite! Feck that! Etc
The game was Donkey!!

moogy1a · 31/10/2013 07:16

I don't swear in front of children and get judgy about those that do.
They WILL copy the words and children using swear words is just horrible.
There again, certain words are horrible no matter who they're said by

Chopstheduck · 31/10/2013 07:17

Ooh so I'm not the only one!! I have a potty mouth, though the younger kids know they aren't allowed to swear. My oldest is 13, and I know she uses certain language I don't want to hear coming out of her mouth, but we had a discussion and I told her that I don't want to hear her swearing.

I don't swear in front of my parents - out of respect for the fact that my dad abhors it and still sulks if one slips out. So I expect the same respect from her, and won't tolerate her swearing in front of me. I think I might be more relaxed once she is an adult though, rather than a very young teen!

moogy1a · 31/10/2013 07:21

out of interest to those who really don't see a problem with it; would it bother you to hear a nursery worker/ childminder swearing in front of the dc?

killpeppa · 31/10/2013 08:06

moogy-

this is a light hearted thread, we don't need any judgy judgys thanks.

moogy1a · 31/10/2013 08:13

I thought I'd done the most effective thread kill I've ever managed. You've just ruined it peppa Angry

madmomma · 31/10/2013 08:13

I was joking when I said I say cunt in front of my toddler! Of course it would bother me if a childcare worker was effing and jeffing around my children! Context is all.

mewmeow · 31/10/2013 08:17

Yanbu! My 3 year old went through the "fucks sake" phase too. But we got rid of it by saying "I don't understand?" confused face.
I'm back on the swearing now after a brief respite.

Geckos48 · 31/10/2013 08:17

We've been trying to curb our swearing, since we caught the oldest (3) looking for his lunchbox muttering 'Oh bollocks' under his breath!

he has said FUCK a few times too but we just start making quacking noises to disguise it!

madmomma · 31/10/2013 08:24

lol@quacking

killpeppa · 31/10/2013 08:32

mwahaaahaaaa
my evil plan workedGrin

Jengnr · 31/10/2013 09:11

What does the fuck say?

Quack quack

:D

Sallystyle · 31/10/2013 09:16

I do often.

I don't mind when my teens say the odd swear word either.

Bad mother.

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