In response to a few questions like, "I thought that you were making up what they do until..." and "Where do they get this stuff..." and "If they were my kids, well let's just say things would be different...", allow me to explain, and I promise not to chastise you if you silently disagree...
Some people call me a sink or swim mom, and while, yes, I do think some things are better learned the hard way; I also believe that exposure is a good thing as well. I believe that if you refuse your kid candy, they will gorge themselves on it when you aren't around. I apply this rule to speech. Freedom of Speech is celebrated in our house. I believe that if the kids hear curse words openly that they will be less likely to abuse them when they are older. I think that the more they are exposed to certain less desirable parts of our language, and *GASP* teaching the appropriate uses and responses to that part of our language, the less likely they will curse someone out in a fit of rage. So far it has worked for us, none of my kids have been in serious trouble at school or with the law. No one has died. I fiercely protect my children, but I am proud that I teach them to defend themselves as well...so yes, I openly admit it, I curse in front of my kids, I am human, it is a part of our language, and short of a true saint, I have never met a person that does not curse.
Now there are a few restrictions, of course, to our household freedom of speech. They are:
Thou shalt not threaten violence against a sibling.
Thou shalt not argue with authority, because you will lose.
You may under no circumstances use the "C" word or "F" word. Those are reserved for adults.
If you curse, you need to be able to defend why you used that choice of words.
This language is only suited for home (hence the celebrated in our house part of free speech).
On occasion you will get some great things said like:
"My butt smells like ass, Mom." Thanks Gunnar
"Get up off of your fat ass and get me something to eat." That was actually not one of mine, but my beautiful sister, Kelsey when she was 3 or 4ish. She said that to our Grandmother.
"Look at that little shit." Thanks Brenna
"I need to take a giant crap." Thanks Jaxom
(Odin has yet to partake in the cursing games)
Sometimes embarrassment:
"Everyone look out that lady is freaking huge!" Thanks Jaxom (2)
"The pee just kept flowing her vagina..." of the woman in the stall next to us... Thanks Brenna (5)
"Did he stuff socks down there? Is that how big it is Daddy?" Thanks Jaxom (4)
"I get racecar diapers because my penis is fast." Thanks Odin (2)
Thinking about it, Gunnar is the one who truly sticks to the whole only suited for home rule...go figure.
But other than those laughable and embarrassing quotes, you do sometimes get a true glimpse into their young, impressionable minds. They aren't afraid when to tell you when something happens, when someone is rude, how they feel about something; they lose the sugar coating and white lies. They speak their minds, and while, yes, sometimes they take me aback. Sometimes they do truly amaze me with what they say.
"I would never act those hooligans, Mom, because I love you and don't want to go to jail." Jaxom (6)
"When I move out, I will still love you, because you put up with my diapers, and crying, and bullshit, even though I tried not to." Jaxom (9)
"I love my body, some of the girls in my class said that I am fat, I could have said that I'm big boned, but I went with have you looked in a mirror?" Brenna (7)
"Do these prices include the use of coupons?" Brenna to her 2nd Grade Teacher (7)
"My mom can stretch a dollar." Gunnar (4)
"Wars should be settled on paper, but that would defeat survival of the fittest, huh?" Jaxom (9)
"She might yell and scream and embarrass me, but that's because she wants me to grow up right." Brenna (7)
"The Nerves of Rude People." Gunnar (4)
I love the things that my kids say, so do I wish they would turn it down a notch, sometimes, but then that wouldn't be us. I know that not everyone agrees with how I parent, and that is fine. They didn't come with a manual, and only time will tell how they turn out. At the end of the day, all we can do is what we think is right and believe that what we do today will mold them into responsible, grown people.
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