Thursday, February 25, 2010

Out of the mouths of babes...

 

This post is now part of Friday Follow. A blog hop that allows bloggers to find new fun blogs to read.  If you are visiting from Friday follow please only follow if you like what you see.



Children listen, they hear, they figure things out - and then ultimately, they repeat.  I try really hard to keep my cool, to use language that I am okay with them using.  But sometimes, I am normal, and I make a bad choice.  Lately, I have been paying attention to things I hear other kids say either around me and my children, in books, on TV, in cartoons...etc.  And there are a few that have stuck in my head.


Boring - My boys do not say or use the word 'boring' yet. I HATE this word. Maybe because of my background as a teacher.  It drove me nuts when I worked hard on an exciting lesson and then before we even started the students/ or usually A student would say, "this is going to be boring" which ultimately influenced several others, and if I wasn't on my toes and ready to preform - the dynamic of the entire hour changed. 

It drives me nuts when kids use the word boring to describe something.  In the world we live in there is very little opportunity for boredom...and I think it is all perspective. I am so proud that my boys don't use the word boring ...yet. I know it will come. And it will be okay. But right now, this is something we don't say in our house. And I love that their perspective is just not seeing boring as an option.


Stupid - this eeks out of my mouth from time to time when I am frustrated at something and as soon as it comes out you can hear me taking a quick inhale of breath - praying that my boys didn't hear it, absorb it, understand it. This word will come too...but five years without it coming out of the mouths of my babes is awesome.

and finally...

Whatever - this word was talked about recently with a few fellow moms at Henry's ECFE class.  We all agreed that it is not usually used respectfully.  I know I use this word myself much too often.  Charley has used it a few times and it was said with an eye roll...but the way he used it was aimed at himself...if that makes sense.  Not sure if that means it is okay - but I am not ready for the eye rolling and Whatever remarks.  Especially when they are aimed at his embarrassing mother.  I think I have a few more years before I have to worry about that one.

Language is a tough one.  There is so much that comes out of my mouth that is habit.  When you have children you try your best to change your language to be peaceful, intelligent, meaningful, and articulate.  Yet - we are all human and each family has their own little ways of verbalizing excitement, fear, frustration, and anger.  We all choose to name things using different words that are comfortable for ourselves.

What have you heard that makes you cringe?  Or what do you say that you have to try really hard to say differently?

I really wonder what I say that I am not aware of - and how it is already impacting my boys language.  More to worry about....but not today - today will be filled with fun - nothing boring!



 

18 comments:

6512 and growing said...

Thank you for this!
I too have tried hard to replace "bored" and "stupid" with other words when they want to jump out of my mouth. I'm also amazed how, when reading to my kids, how many words I want to change in children's books.

I'm also uncomfortable with the word "war" (as well as the concept). I just don't know how to explain to my young children that people solve conflicts by killing each other.

Shell said...

Stupid and whatever are my pet peeves.

I hate to hear stupid coming from my boys' mouths.

Whatever is more dh's word and I want to slap him when he says it.

I'm a nice wife like that.

Hattie said...

I can not stand, "stupid, dummy, or shut-up." They drive me nuts. The boys always say these things to each other when they're fighting, but then again at least these words aren't as bad as some others they could be saying!

Heather (One Take On Life) said...

I am not a big fan of whatever but it's said in our house. Along with boring, that one doesn't bug me.
I hear Hayden using the silly potty language kids pick up from others. That I am not a fan of.

Anonymous said...

"Are we doing something fun today?" at the beginning of a class period. Ugh!

Also, can't stand hearing on tv, "At the end of the day". People on tv say that all the time.

Tommy doesn't say anything yet...

Kim

Nic said...

Words that "We" are not supposed to say:
Stupid
Fat..huge pet peeve
Butt
Turd..Drives me nuts
Shut up
Hate

Crazed Mama said...

My boy's have picked up Dude....
My almost 2 year old little girl....shoot

Both my fault oops :-)

gschneider said...

whoops. Read this too late. Tonight Charley chose a book that looked "boring" and I said so. Then I got reprimanded. Lesson learned.

And words to live by:
If you're bored, then you're boring.

For the Love of Naps - Sarah said...

Wha ----hahaha! I did reprimand my brother. But isn't that what big sisters are for!

All of you reminded me that there are more words for me to hear come out of my boys mouths in their lifetime. For now I will just enjoy the innocence.

Anonymous said...

I am not a fan of the word 'hate', especially when it is used in reference to another person. And like you, I don't tend to tolerate 'bored' or 'stupid'. I am constantly amazed at the words (and concepts) that I see in older children's books and the older Disney movies, and wish that publishers would go back and edit them to make them a bit more appropriate (specifically, I see lots of references to death and dying, and while those are concepts I want my kids to understand, I was hoping to wait a little while!)

MollyinMinn said...

This is so true and really made me stop and think. Thank you for that!

Happy to find you through FF! I am your newest follower.

{ Mom of 3 Dolls } said...

Hi, I'm stopping by from FF.

I heard my son saying "Darn" but didn't realize it until I say it. He got "Stupid" from big sis! Things that comes out of kids mouth can be sweet or horrifying!

Mom et al said...

My 4 year old daughter's latest saying is "Pain in the Butt". We probably should be curtailing that, but it's just too cute the way she says it.

I'm your newest Friday Follower!

Come visit me at mom-et-al.com

-Maria

Unknown said...

Hello there! Newest follower here from FF. I actually stopped by here a few days ago and liked what I saw then. I agree with your word choices. My 2 yr old doesn't say those yet, but he has repeated "heck"... as in "What the heck!". Ok, so it was more of him yelling it out at the neighborhood from the front door, because he likes the echo... I'm a fantastic mom, I tell ya.

CB said...

Hi Sarah - I'm a new follower from Friday Follow and love your blog! So nice to read real stories instead of just giveaway stuff :) My 3 year old is always referring to stuff he doesn't like as "dumb". Not too big of a deal yet, but I don't want him to think that not liking something means that it's dumb.

Coupon Clippin Mommy said...

I love your blog title! I'm a new follower from FF. You can find me blogging here: http://www.couponclippinmommy.com/

Unknown said...

I am always amazed how one person's negative opinion can change the whole room's opinion. I also don't like the word boring and stupid. They are little sponges....

Anonymous said...

I hate the word "whatever" as well. My little sister says it all the time and it drives me crazy! I'm following now. I love reading "mommy of two boys" blogs!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails