Another battle with my children

[Claudia1]

I have "had it" with the use of a certain word. Now mind you, we don't cuss in our house and our expletives are usually dang, darn, oh my gosh, etc....

(Editor's note before I continue: we have raised our children to be tolerant and respectful of all people. This is nothing that they have learned from us!!!!!)

They continue to use the word, "gay" as a slam. Instead of saying something like "He did a weird thing at school" they will subsitute "gay" for weird. I have talked, lectured, punished, etc... and it still pops out. ...... and do you know why? .......because they hear it all the time and think that it is not a cuss word, so it is OK!!!!!

When I explain that it is an insult to a group of people, they insist that that is not what they mean. "It's just a word", they say. Then I say that, from now on, everytime I see someone do something strange, I use their personal name as an expletive. They agree to comply. Then, a few days later, I hear it again. Then I address it again.

Eventually, they will coorperate. In the meantime, I am standing firm on my position.

Now, about the kid swap that was posted a little bit ago......

 

[Serena]

LOL, how about charging them chores each time they say it or money, or sentences.

I don't see Mallory doing too much right now, but I bet she'd be embarrassed if you washed her mouth out with soap. lol

 

[Beauty]

I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. My DH and the "F" word. He works in a very manly environment where this word is used just like I use the word "The" It comes out all the time!!! I get to the point where I will say thats it...we have reached our "F" quota for the day. I have begged him to stop saying it in front of John-Cole but the problem is he doesn't realize he is saying it...it just comes out like a normal word!!

UUGGHH!!!

 

[Claudia1]

My teen DD has pretty much stopped. Now my 9 yr DS has picked up the banner and is running with it.


Aarrrrrggghhhh!

 

[Jeafl]

I noticed my 9-yr. old son started doing that this summer. He would say something like "Don't be so gay!" to his sisters. Apparantly it's very common among kids now. I asked him if he even knew what gay meant, and he said he did, I said "Fine, explain it to me". He couldn't come up with an answer. It's really tough to break them of bad habits.

By the way, how is your daughter doing? Isn't she due soon? Please keep us posted.

 

[Kermit]

Some college-age cousins of mine were doing that when they came to visit us a few years ago. Not only that, but they were also using the word "Jewish" in the same context. To their credit, they are great kids. I think that those types of words were accepted in their social circle because they live in a very isolated farm community. However, I went nuts the first time I heard both of those. I told them that I didn't want to hear either of those words the rest of the time, and I guess I said it with some authority, because they stopped. But I'm still steaming about it now just thinking about it, and it was about 3 years ago.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Very true with many words that creep into everyday usage in our language, Claudia. I see a good number of words used here on the DIS that would never have been used in years past in the context or with the audience that that are used with, but because of, (for lack of a better term, I will make one) 'cuss creep' they are supposedly commonplace, and therefore condoned and allowed. I guess that is progress.

 

[Claudia1]

I think it is quite interesting that this "language" is not just local but is not found within the media. How has it spread?

Can't you just hear the backlash against this dialogue in a script?!?!?!