Comments on The Daddy Experience: It's Not The Words

Hmmmm, okay I am somewhat in agreement with you. ...

2010-07-26T06:16:39.192-07:00

Hmmmm,

okay I am somewhat in agreement with you. Its not about the words but how you use them that matters. However what I am asking myself is, how does one teach his kids to deal with emotions? Words are a verbal form of expression and in your two scenarios you chose anger as the example. I grew up hearing my mother praise God and curse him in the same sentence; ["God Dammit, Lord forgive me"] and it wasn't so much the words that she used but the way my mother handled anger and frustration that affected me.

You might be ok with your son swearing or using "off-words" as long as they are not done maliciously towards others but does that include the harm done to yourself by getting worked up over nothing? I think the important thing here is to teach our kids how to manage stress and frustration with out using words as catalysts to stress. If you say "sugar snaps" as opposed to "shit" you may find that you are not that mad or upset. Try it sometime....

I am with you - but I have to say for me with my o...

2010-07-24T11:02:45.852-07:00

I am with you - but I have to say for me with my old school momma I couldn't say stuff like "sugar" when growing up as she didn't even allow for what she called word substitutions. She said those things lead to poor communication & instead I was supposed to say things like "this upsets me" or "I am so disappointed (angry, sad, frustrated, etc)". Now she gives me grief because my 3yr old's favorite cuss is "poop dangit!" LOL I should say though that his first real cuss was an F bomb at just over a year old. After me harping on others (like daddy) to PLEASE watch what they say (as I RARELY cuss)..one particularly miserable day...I ha an awful day at work, wit a long commute in nasty winter weather, came home to quickly feed my son & then a mad dash to get groceries. The store went badly, my son was not happy there, etc & at the end I treated myself to a Coke slush. Upon arriving home, I was hurrying into the house, hands full with toddler, diaper bag, grocery bags, etc. I tried not to take 2 trips because it was sleeting & because my son was very upset, so in my hurry I overloaded myself with all of that & the slushie of course...well as you can imagine, as we got inside, my son was wiggly & I dropped the shush all over the carpet. Nice. My reaction? A huge defeated sigh & mumbling F*** under my breath. My sweet one year old still in my arms turns & hugs me & pats my back saying softly while nodding yes "f*** momma, f***". I could have died. LOL

I am totally on the same page as you with this. N...

2010-07-24T06:56:11.318-07:00

I am totally on the same page as you with this. Not sure if that makes you want to change your mind now ;)