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Identical situation. Two boys; I swear frequently in front of them. They don't speak similarly. In my case, I've emphasized the fact that if they start speakin
by zhengyi13 8y ago
Identical situation. Two boys; I swear frequently in front of them. They don't speak similarly.
In my case, I've emphasized the fact that if they start speaking as I do in public, they will face consequences from their teachers and the other adults around them. I think it helps that there are people, times, and places for which I distinctly modify my tone and vocabulary, and I think they have absorbed that along with everything else.
- geomark 8y agoThe subject of using profanity around your kids is a subject I have definite opinions about. But it is a whole other topic that I'm not sure belongs in this thread. I will, however, mention something Paul Graham says in one of his essays, that the only reason we teach our kids not to swear is because we want them to remain cute - that is just so off, in my opinion. I like what the comedian Jerry Seinfeld said, that if you have to use profanity when telling a joke then you didn't nail it. I think that applies more broadly than just joke telling.
- taejo 8y ago> that the only reason we teach our kids not to swear is because we want them to remain cute I disagree with that. For swearing to be useful as swearing, it must be taboo. Avoiding it in certain places and teaching children not to do it is part of preserving the taboo; it's preserving the cultural heritage for your children to enjoy when they grow up.