Do you blatantly curse in front of your teen?

[Anonymous]

The best way to model self-discipline for your teen is to lack self-discipline yourself!

[Anonymous]

Only when I tell him he's being an asshole.

[Anonymous]

My kid is younger and sometimes I let things slip, including the F word. I feel bad, but at the same time, this is life. If you protect them from everything, the first time they hear a word, they'll flip out. My kid is on the bus or metro, do you have any idea how many times he hears people using very colorful language? Explaining to him the nuances of when it's OK and when it's not and how ti comes across is much more important to me than pretending people don't cuss.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we do because we don't censor language. Our only rule is that the kids can't use swear words against another person. No saying F you to a sibling or calling someone a little sh!t etc.

We aren't big swear word users in general, so I don't think I've ever used one in front of their friends. I do hear their friends cursing from time to time when they're all gaming in the family room.

I wouldn't consider the kids as having potty mouths, either. I feel like since they're allowed to use those words when the correct time comes up, there's no novelty to them. My youngest, a tween, doesn't even curse even though she knows she can. She said it feels wrong to her and that's fine with us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not judging. But for those of you who curse in front of your teens, do you also curse in front of your teen's friends?

If the situation calls for it, yes.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I do. I always have. It's my one great failing as a parent. I have a prodigious potty mouth.

However, the completely unexpected result has been that I have a kid who doesn't swear. No shit.

[Anonymous]

Hell yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we do because we don't censor language. Our only rule is that the kids can't use swear words against another person. No saying F you to a sibling or calling someone a little sh!t etc.

We aren't big swear word users in general, so I don't think I've ever used one in front of their friends. I do hear their friends cursing from time to time when they're all gaming in the family room.

I wouldn't consider the kids as having potty mouths, either. I feel like since they're allowed to use those words when the correct time comes up, there's no novelty to them. My youngest, a tween, doesn't even curse even though she knows she can. She said it feels wrong to her and that's fine with us.

First of all, you are censoring language because you have rules (which is fine). Second, you are of course teaching them when it's appropriate. I'm sure you would say something if they were cursing in school or in front of grandma or some other place you find socially unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we do because we don't censor language.

Uh huh. And I bet your kids are allowed to say as many n-words as a rap star.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not judging. But for those of you who curse in front of your teens, do you also curse in front of your teen's friends?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

No, I do not. Nor did my parents, and I think that was a good thing.

Unless or until you are ready for them to use that language in front of you (I would prefer that they not), then monitor what you say. I'm pretty sure you don't drop F bombs at work, so it shouldn't be that difficult to keep it clean in front of your kids (and their friends).

[Anonymous]

Merde, in times of stress.

Not anything else. I'm not a big swearer, in any language. They rarely swear, and it's usually the same word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I do. She already hears it other places, including school. It's not every other word is a curse word. But, yes, I do.

Including the F-word? And what age was your daughter when you started doing it?

Yes. But, like I said, it's not all the time or "blatant." I'd say 11/12.

We've discussed where it is appropriate to use it and where it is not (e.g., work). We've discussed not cursing "all the time" but that, sometimes, a well timed F-bomb or other word is a good release. I understand people don't agree with that, and that's fine with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not judging. But for those of you who curse in front of your teens, do you also curse in front of your teen's friends?

I try really hard not to. Because they are not my kids. But it sometimes slips out.