Sunday, 22 August 2010

Smug parents r not us...

Oh, how I laughed when I read this post by More Than Just a Mother a couple of weeks back.

But then, in the taxi on the way back from the airport on Thursday, Boy #2 was asleep and Boy #1 and were messing around. I was tickling him...

Him: "You're a mongrel."

Me: "A mongrel? Really?" (I have heard this one many times before; it's courtesy of one of the characters in Boy #1's Crocodile Hunter film). "Oh dear."

Him (aware that I was unimpressed): "No, you're not a mongrel. You're a muthamucker."

Me (Don't panic. Don't panic. Keep smiling. Don't over-react. If he knows this is bad it's going to reappear. This is what you get for spending the summer in England. Who did he hear this one from? His older cousin? On the tube? On the street? Where? Where?) "OK. Right. Who did you hear saying that?"

Him: "Boy #2."


I might have known...



13 comments:

  1. Oh Dear! Haha, you just never know what they're going to come out with. My little boy has only just turned two (in April). After tipping a box of lego out onto the floor last Wednesday he proclaimed, "Oh Jesus!".

    Definitely got that off Daddy.

    Good for you for not reacting how I did ;) xx

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  2. Oh I did laugh when I read the origional post and this too, but I am not smug, mini siad shit the other day!

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  3. Oh God! Still, at least he didn't hear it from you. I however, am guilty as charged in that department...

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  4. One thing about living in America, is that the children's language does seem to be remarkably clean. Culturally, cuss words - as they're called - are really unacceptable. This shows up in film ratings. You can have blood and violence and murder, and that's ok for teens, but if there's 'strong language', then that weighs heavily in the balance against the film. It's right up there with nudity, for Americans. (If you use Netflix to check out films, you'll see this.)

    So my children are absolutely horrified if they hear someone use a cuss word. I find it rather touching. If they are even telling me about an incident where a cuss word is used, they will ask "may I be excused?" before describing it, and their little eyes will be as big as saucers as they report the misdemeanour.

    It must be shocking for Americans in England. Their children must get so corrupted. Poor little f***ers.

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  5. My son has become the Cuss Police. You're not allowed to say 'godam' or 'bloody' or HEAVEN FORBID 'oh hell'
    And I love him for it. Of course he will hear these words but he needs to learn why it's unacceptable to say them.
    And to do as I say and not as daddy does!

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  6. Or, you could have them in the USA, calling you a "mutha". It sounds highly respectable and they will have no idea what they are saying, but no - just, "No".

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  7. Brilliant. The sort of thing my daughter would come out with and she has no siblings therefore no excuse!

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  8. You did right in not reacting shocked at all. Stay as cool as a cucumber, that´s the best thing to do. The boys sure are hilarious, though, in knowing what will ruffle your feathers. Such language indeed and that from Boy #2!

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  9. The F word appeared out of my 5yo mouth the other day. I asked where he'd heard it. You Mummy. Ah. Oops. (In my limited defence I had just burnt my finger on a pan, but clearly must watch my language a bit more - now it is just a case of please don't repeat in front of the Grannies!)

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  10. Yeah, well I only have one child so she cant blame her sibling... ;) Yes, thats right, its usually me who she is mimicking. Although I dont think Ive ever said muthamucker. I might try that sometime though, it sounds quite effective in a 'stop-em-in-their-tracks' way.

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  11. I would like to exchange links with your site potty-diaries.blogspot.com
    Is this possible?

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  12. Ha ha ha - don't you just love 'em!

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  13. Beck, 'jesus'? Yep, that one rings a bell!

    MH, so glad I'm not alone...

    GM, no that one he didn't, at least.

    Iota, you are a shocker.

    Tara, or in our case, do as I say and not as the grandparents say (not that they're responsible for this one).

    EPM, no. Absolutely. No.

    RS, they do love to test those boundaries, don't they?

    Nora, there is of course the possibility that Boy #1 was just trying to cover his tracks...

    PWN, the Boys' grannies wouldn't say the f word - but the b word (both of them) is frequently used. Blast it...

    Michelle, not a bad idea. Although not in front of the children, obviously...(!)

    Anonymous, it is possible, depending on the relevance of your site to the Potty Diaries (and whether I like it - which should of course go without saying). E-mail me (address on 'contact me') if you want to get in touch on this.

    Morethan, it's there job, isn't it, to make our lives more interesting?

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