Dirty World

In our book, David in Trouble, the young, mischevious protagonist is pictured with a bar of soap in his mouth and the caption, "But Dad says it!"

Sis and Bud didn't understand.

"Why is he eating soap?" Sis asked. "Is it good?"

Not wanting them to try the soap for a snack during their next bath, I tried to explain what a dirty word is.

"A dirty word is a word that adults use when they are mad or frustrated and can't think of anything else to say. But they're not nice words."

"What are they?" Bud wanted to know.

"You'll learn them. Later."

"Is it like 'I don't want to clean up'?" Sis queried. "Or, like 'no'?"

Um, no. They kept trying to guess, coming up with the worst things they could think of to say, like "I won't do that." Or making up grunting sounds. Oddly, they didn't actually guess "dirt," or "poop," or the like.

I try really hard not to curse in front of the kids and I do pretty well, not wanting them to sound like preschool sailors. I do curse though, after dark, and have found a joy in cursing that didn't exist before I had to curtail myself--ask any of my friends what creeps into my otherwise civilized conversation when the kids aren't around. It's like I'm the Incredible Hulk Mommy. though, rationally, I find cursing to be uncreative. But there is a power in it, even if it's becoming prosaic. So, I'm not teaching them any dirty words now, but when it's time, I'll be a great teacher!