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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think it is wrong to swear in front of children fullstop!

104 replies

May2December · 04/08/2008 23:59

If we expect them not to swear surely we should set a good example. (Not saying I have never done this just that I think it is wrong). What is the worst swear word you would say in front of your dcs and would you tolerate them using it?

OP posts:
Litchick · 05/08/2008 09:31

Driving is the killer.
Who hasn't called another motorist a poorly chosen word when you've been cut up on the M25?

Tortington · 05/08/2008 09:32

i say 'fuck' a lot.

........so? get over it ponces

ComeOVeneer · 05/08/2008 09:34

I agree with OP. I'm no prude, but have never really been a "swearer". Although I agree there are less offensive and downright atrocious sweawords, I hate to hear any of them coming out of a child's mouth, it is so unecessary.

This is a pet peeve of mine with dh and he thinks "mild" swearing is ok for a child. DH is a culprit of driving and football watching swearing. I hate to sound lie a nagging wife about it but I don''t agree, plus I will be the one having to face the teachers at school if they start repeating it there!

VictorianSqualor · 05/08/2008 09:35

I swear loads.
My DC's do not.
They understand that swearing is for adults, just like they understand they can't have a bottle of wine in the evening or drive the car or go out alone.

ComeOVeneer · 05/08/2008 09:35

Custardo what would you think if, say in my case, your 3 year old and 6 year old were wandering around saying "fuck" all the time?

FluffyMummy123 · 05/08/2008 09:38

Message withdrawn

Tortington · 05/08/2008 09:39

my 3 year olds and 6 year old didn't.

i suppose the method of punishment or coersion if your child does - is up to you.

wessexgirl · 05/08/2008 09:41

Had my first ever child-swearing episode from dd2 (just 3) yesterday - she was 'helping' me clean the bathroom and found some cat hair on the floor. She said, "Oh, those bloody cats!"

I've obviously said this myself at some point for her to repeat it, and was quite .

Her older sister has never said anything of the kind though. I'm hoping it's just been the odd unconscious slippage here and there.

tiredemma · 05/08/2008 09:43

I swear (quite a lot)- not at kids but I do swear in front of them.

will I go to hell?

Tortington · 05/08/2008 09:44

yes you will. hell you will go - i can't believe you aren't a perfect parent.

noonki · 05/08/2008 09:45

swearing at kids - vile

swearing around kids - OK

I'm with VictoriaSqualor - they learn it's something adults do

I do calm it down around them and don't swear incentley(sp?

My DH claims never to swear around them but in the car he thinks there is a magic barrier that they can't hear!

VictorianSqualor · 05/08/2008 09:45

Ifd my children have swore all I've ever said is 'That's a swear word, not for you to say' and left it. Thankfully, it's worked, they don't swear.

They are aware of what they are allowed to say and what they aren't. DD will say 'Oh my......' or 'Oh, bother!', DS just grunts.

FluffyMummy123 · 05/08/2008 09:46

Message withdrawn

wessexgirl · 05/08/2008 09:46

Lol, noonki, my dh shares your belief in the magical car barrier .

nervousal · 05/08/2008 09:49

I don't tend to swear much. DD's choice of swear word is "bums"

One thing I don't understand though - for those of you who think that kids shouldn't swear but its OK for adults - Why?? Surely if its acceptable for adults to swear then it should be for kids too?

fishie · 05/08/2008 09:50

ds had a phase of saying "fucksake" at end of every sentence. phew that it was one of dh's swears not mine. ignored it and he soon stopped (dh too).

is bloody and damn really as bad as fuck and cunt? i'm going to hell.

tiredemma · 05/08/2008 09:51

Cod - Why are you surprised?

( I can almost picture you now, Gavel in one hand- black cap in the other!!!!

FluffyMummy123 · 05/08/2008 09:52

Message withdrawn

tiredemma · 05/08/2008 09:53

really?

forevercleaning · 05/08/2008 09:53

the only word we had not said was the c word. i hate it! But my dd 13 came home from school saying a boy on the bus had called her it, and what did it mean. I explained that it was a horrible word referring to a ladies bottom and that if i saw the boy i would deal with it.

Lo and behold the following day, we were in the village shop and she pointed him out so at the till i came up behind him and said ' So you called my daughter a c?' (said the whole word out loud - just other adults no children about and he was so embarrassed, he denied it, so i said, well there must be another boy who looks identical to you, has the same name as you and lives in this village, how strange, I will find him and tell his parents! He was so shocked, he dropped his change and then scrabbled around on the floor to pick it up and shoved it all in the charity box and ran out the door.

He cringes every time i see him! I think humiliating him infront of other people in the village did the trick!

NotDoingTheHousework · 05/08/2008 09:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

lazaroulovesleggings · 05/08/2008 09:58

There's a school near me that has a swearing club as part of it's after school activities. Apparently it's very popular with parents and children alike. It's good to have a wider vocabulary isn't it?

VictorianSqualor · 05/08/2008 10:02

Nervousal, I know what swear words mean, I understand origins and connotations, my DC's could not possibly understand that and are still learning how to express themselves so swearing is not something for children.

Just like they can't possibly understand the consequences and origins of sex or drugs or alcohol.

lazaroulovesleggings · 05/08/2008 10:05

They have a word of the week. This week it is the 'c' word.

Oblomov · 05/08/2008 10:11

Not o.k. to swear infront of children.
Not o.k. to hear children swearing.

I swear very infrequently. I try not to. I believe that my vocab and intonation is good enough to make people understand my emotions.
When I say to my friend "I was SOOOO narked, then ....", I think she understands what I am trying to express.