Because I'm the Mommy

       It was inevitable. Every parent must deal with it sooner or later. And anyone who has read this blog for any period of time knows that I have a problem with it too, so I shouldn't have been so surprised when I heard it for the first time. Honestly, I've known it's been going on for a couple of weeks now. I've heard them trying it out behind closed doors. It's being said secretly, in giggly, hushed tones as if they are fearful someone will hear. But until yesterday they hadn't the nerve to say it outside of their bedroom. Apparently the trial period is over; they're taking the act on the road!
       Logan--the good child, spent the night with Papa last night and after the normal schedule of running all over town, eating a dinner of junk and french fries (actually pancakes and sausage, Logan's favorite), and a bath Papa asked if Logan had packed his toothbrush.... It was after checking his backpack for the toothbrush that it happened....
              Papa: "Did you pack your toothbrush, buddy?"
              Logan: "No. DAMN it!*
       I should probably let you know that "damn it" is this family's curse word/phrase of choice. It might also be genetic because both of my parents say it. My father says it so much that he doesn't even know he's said it most of the time. ~~Although in his defense he prefers the GD combo over the plain Jane damn it and the kids haven't pulled that phrase out yet.~~ Now I'm not trying to make light of a serious issue ~~yes I am~~ because I know that I can't have a couple of four year olds running around saying things like that. ~~Even if they are using the phrase correctly.~~ I know that it's inappropriate.
       Now because of my tone while writing this post, you might get the impression that we aren't careful about what we say around "little ears", And please know that we are VERY careful ~~which is why the kids are only saying damn it and not something worse~~! I'll be the first to tell you that the Mommy has...shall we say, a "colorful" vocabulary. ~~I can curse in multiple languages--and because you lose it if you don't use it....~~ I know that I am making light of a topic that most people would find to be very serious, but frankly, I have a different opinion; I feel that there are appropriate times and places to use such language. Now such language coming out a four or five year old mouth is always inappropriate. But when I am with my girlfriends at GNO, you can ask them, I cuss like a sailor; so do most of them as well. I think it has to do with the fact that the majority of us have small children at home and you can only talk in simplistic terms for so long--it just does something to your brain. You have to have some sort of release. ~~And a good f-bomb can cleanse your soul. Ok that might have crossed a line....~~
        What I'm trying explain, in an uncharacteristically ineloquent fashion, is that there are times and place when it is not only appropriate to use "colorful" language but even expected. I really do have a point to all of this. I have been watching/listening to my daughter's speech pattern and already I notice there are significant differences in how she speaks in comparison to other children. We've begun working on some things at home already and based on the reading I've done I know that there are going to be areas of her vocabulary education that will have to be supplemented at home. Meaning teaching her to curse, in an appropriate manner. The fact is that normal adults curse occasionally. It's a part of life. And I have to admit that when I first read that a parent was teaching their autistic 15 year old son to curse I was slightly appalled but by the end of the article I realized that it is something that I too, will have to do. Cursing is no different than an idiom or a slang term; all three are confusing to an autistic brain and all must be understood in order to communicate in a "normal" world.
       So I think I'm up to the challenge. I never thought my foul mouth would be an asset but God blesses us with skills that are understood sometimes by Him alone. But I think I will wait until she's older to start teaching her the finer points of cursing you know, until she's 15--or maybe 39, I'm not sure which....
Peace out!