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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate it when people swear in front of young children?

116 replies

Runny · 13/12/2016 17:26

Namely their own young children? It makes toes curl!

Just popped into my local Chinese takeaway. Also waiting was a young couple with a little boy who must have been aged around 4/5. Im not joking when I say every single word was 'fuck' this and 'fuck' that. Just in general conversation even when speaking to and telling off their little boy, who wasn't misbeahing as such was just getting a bit over excited. Even telling him to 'stop fucking running around'.

There is just no need for it, it's so uncouth and shows a blatant lack of self control. Now don't get me wrong I can swear with the best of them, but I never ever swear in front of children of any age. Never have and never will. The worst I ever heard my parents say growing up was 'bloody'. It's becoming more common, I even heard a mother telling her daughter to 'get in the fucking car' outside the local school the other week.

AIBU to think these people should learn some self control?

OP posts:
user1471461436 · 13/12/2016 17:28

The same parents will complain when their child repeats it

SaltySalt · 13/12/2016 17:29

Uncouth Grin

MagicMary1 · 13/12/2016 17:29

They ideally shouldn't be, but there kid there choice. They are not doing anything illegal.

Believeitornot · 13/12/2016 17:31

Yanbu

Especially when they do it in front of my child.

It isn't smart. Or pleasant.

Bananalanacake · 13/12/2016 17:33

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
Runny · 13/12/2016 17:35

It's not illegal, no Mary but it doesn't show poor judgement and a lack of class. Also setting their kids up for a bollocking when they repeat it at school.

OP posts:
Trifleorbust · 13/12/2016 17:36

Yes, it's grim.

Butterymuffin · 13/12/2016 17:36

Sadly there's no way of stopping this now. But I don't like it either.

NickyEds · 13/12/2016 17:38

YANBU. I have a family member who swears pretty much constantly, not even in context, just "I was waiting in fucking traffic the other day, by the fucking super market.."-that sort of thing. My ds is at an age where he literally copies every word we say so I'm dreading seeing him. If my three year old describes anything as "fucking mint" I'll go apeshit. But not swear, obviously.

TheNaze73 · 13/12/2016 17:40

I do agree with you.

Cracking up at uncouth

MagicMary1 · 13/12/2016 17:40

Well it's there choice, I hate swearing full stop. But eventually are kids are going to hear it. Your right though shows no class.

Original poster
Runny · 13/12/2016 17:41

Like I said, I can swear with the best of them but if you can't utter a sentence without using the word 'fuck' you need to widen you're vocabulary a bit.

OP posts:
MyPeriodFeatures · 13/12/2016 17:41

Yes, it's awful. However, 2 months ago I went into the other room and muttered 'for fucks sake'. Under my breath.

DD 3 now repeats this at the top of her voice.

'Do you think flop (from Bing) says for fucks sake?'

Any thoughts on how to de programme child from repeating this welcomed.

Original poster
Runny · 13/12/2016 17:42

Yes they'll hear it eventually, but I'd rather it wasn't at five years old!

OP posts:
CockacidalManiac · 13/12/2016 17:42

Some people are just a bit scummy

iamadaftcoo · 13/12/2016 17:43

Meh can't get worked up about it. Was brought up in a very sweary household (Cambridge educated parents btw). Never repeated swear words at school (not in front of teachers anyway).

I love swearing.

FindoGask · 13/12/2016 17:43

I swear a bit, in front of my children sometimes ( girls of 6 and 9). I try not to, but I don't give myself an unduly hard time if I do. There are worse crimes. Actually I've probably committed some of those, too.

SerialBodenReturner · 13/12/2016 17:44

YA definitely not U.

Makes my toes curl, awful.

iamadaftcoo · 13/12/2016 17:44

if you can't utter a sentence without using the word 'fuck' you need to widen you're vocabulary a bit.

Oh the irony.

19lottie82 · 13/12/2016 17:46

We were in a reasonably nice but family friendly Italian restaurant with the kids a few years ago and there was a couple in their early 20s sitting a couple of tables down who were chucking out the F and C bombs at an extremely audible volume (I think they had indulged in a few shandies). We told the kids to go wash their hands before dinner and DH told them in a very stern manner to watch their language!

Middleoftheroad · 13/12/2016 17:46

i agree. I was cringing when I bumped into a cousin. he was effin and jeffin in front of my boys like it was normal - and he has kids too.

I also take (Professor) umbridge (does that trump uncouth?) even though I could swear like a Navvy if required.

Konyaa · 13/12/2016 17:47

The number of comments about class and classlessness on this thread + the number of grammatical errors is enormously ironical.

iamadaftcoo · 13/12/2016 17:47

Yy kon

AradiasDaughter · 13/12/2016 17:49

Very much Kon. Laughable in fact!

Original poster
Runny · 13/12/2016 17:49

Yes, you are obvioulsy a superior being if you don't ever make gramatical errors and your parents went to Cambrige Wink.

Not sure what any of that has to do with dropping F bombs in front of young kids?

OP posts: