Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008
Today
Hi: 72
Lo: 57
Sun
Hi: 74
Lo: 58
Mon
Hi: 74
Lo: 59
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
In Kids & Family Blogs
Banana f---ing smoothie: Kids and swearing, take 2
 
By Molly Snyder Edler RSS Feed
OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

E-mail author | Author bio
More articles by Molly Snyder Edler

What is a blog?  For us it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Published March 14, 2008 at 11:37 a.m.
Tags: kids and swearing, cussing, beans & barley, banana smoothie

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog saying that I wasn't going to freak out anymore if my kids use an occasional swear word, as long as they were not using it to name call, i.e. hurt someone's feelings. Many talkbackers criticized my judgment as a parent for this decision. Well, folks, this blog's for you.

Perhaps this incident was my karmic payback for decriminalizing cussing in my household. Perhaps not. Either way, last week we went to Beans & Barley for dinner, and my 4-year-old, who has never dropped an F-bomb in his life, looked at the server and said in a very loud, clear voice that he wanted a "banana f---ing smoothie."

I was shocked, mortified and a little amused all at the same time. After my husband apologized to the server, we told our son that he should not use that word in public because it could hurt some peoples' feelings. He seemed to understand.

Most parents have an example of this kind of thing. I'm sharing mine to say that, despite my philosophical thoughts on kids and swearing, it's still embarassing. But it's a little humorous, too.

That night, my husband said right before I drifted off to sleep, "Today will always go down for me as the day Brett Favre retired from football and Levi ordered a banana f---ing smoothie."

Yup.

17 comments about this article.
Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by Preview
Cheese_Heir 4yrs old... Wow! Why don't you let him brush up on his swearing and encourage ...
ttt That is so awesome. Next time I go to Beans, that is EXACTLY how I'm ordering ...
brewerfan13 The context that he used it in was hilarious! I think the funny level depends ...
snowstorm dpk- fascinating commentary on racial codes and blah, blah, blah! However, I ...
Downtowner At least he got it grammatically correct. A wonderful memory for all. Funniest ...


Show me the other 12 Talkbacks

Recent blogs/briefs by Molly Snyder Edler
Workshop spices up mom's and dad's sex life
Wednesday
The Tool Shed hosts a free workshop called "Sexy Mamas & Hot Daddies: Maintaining Your ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Daily dish: Chunky guacamole El Condor
Sunday
Remember El Condor, the "walk down" Mexican restaurant on Downer Avenue? Here's their ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Praying for a hamster?!
Oct. 03, 2008
Without going into too much detail, my son's new hamster, Lavender, was clearly dehydrating. ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Bouncy houses put spring in the birthday kid's step
Oct. 01, 2008
My sons have been to a couple of birthday parties in the past with "bouncy houses," and ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. More memories of '82
Sept. 30, 2008
On Monday, OnMilwaukee.com Publisher Andy Tarnoff posted a blog asking, "Where were you ...