It's been awhile since I've had to watch my language around children.
That's not to say I'm adverse to swearing... in fact, my husband and I always encouraged in our children the art of seeing humor in colorful language - in the appropriate context, of course.
But with my grandkids at the age now that they're veritable sponges in terms of everything their little ears hear, I must remember be more careful.
Case in point... today Jane and I were driving to lunch with Audrey's oldest, 3-year-old William.
As we were pulling into the restaurant parking lot, some a-hole cut me off.
Not really thinking the situation through, I blurted out, "You (insert choice word here)!"
If it had just been me and Jane, it would have been left at that.
But it wasn't just us. And from the backseat, William's little voice exclaimed: "Grandma! Did you just call me a (insert said choice word) or some other guy?"
Jane and I looked at each other wide-eyed, suddenly re-aware of the little sponge back there. It was damage control time.
"Of course not, honey!" I told him. "Grandma would never, ever call you that! I was talking about that man who cut me off, but I shouldn't have used that bad word. I'm very sorry."
William thought about it for a second. Then he reassured me in his own cute little way: "It's OK, Grandma. Only monsters scare me, not silly words."
And there you go. I'll just have to be sure to refrain from saying those silly words around him from now on.
At least until he's old enough for me to teach him how to flick people off.
- Sharon
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