So I am guessing that you know where I am heading with this. Ruby has started to say the f-word. The first time she said it was months ago. I think I said it while on the way home and in traffic. I said it and from the backseat I hear her sweet little voice repeat it. ''fuck''. I didn't react, didn't say, "Don't say that bad, bad word!" or anything like that. I just let it go in the hopes that by not drawing attention to it that it would just be a one time thing.
Weeeeelll, that didn't exactly work. I'd hear her say it everyone once in a while but I still ignored it. One time, again on the way home from daycare, I heard her in the back saying, "fuckfuckfuckfuck fuck fuck!" over and over again. She did this several days in a row. I am certain that I didn't say the word and that send her off in a diatribe of fucks so I really don't know where it came from. She'd even started using it in the right context. She'd be struggling to get her shoes on in the morning and she'd say"fuck!'" One time she dropped her glass and spilled milk everywhere..Oh wait..I think that was dammit...probably after hearing me say that, too. Oops. See, I am an equal opportunity swearer.
Anyway. So I wasn't too concerned about it until the weekend of Woodland when Ruby was with her grandparents and she used the word, again in frustration because she couldn't get her shoe on, but this time grandpa heard her say it. And he spanked her. Yeah. So since then we've been working on trying to get her not to say the f-word anymore. I've explained to her that ''fuck is a word for mommy and daddy to use" (even though H very rarely swears) and that she shouldn't use it. Then she'd say, "I not say fuck!" lol. So I've given her alternatives: Can't get your shoes on?? Say, "awwww, man!" instead! Spilled your drink? Say, "bummer!" instead!
So far I think we've made some progress but we are not totally out of the F-in woods yet. Occasionally something will happen and she'll start to say, "fuu....." but then I'll catch her and give her 'the look' complete with raised eye brow and it turns into, "fuuu...awwww man!" I've caught her whispering it over and over again very, very quietly under her breath. When she knows that I've noticed she breaks out in a huge grin and starts to giggle. And I laugh right back, which I know is probably not cool, but dangit! It's funny! Yes, Mother of the Year I am not, not that I am really trying for it. The funny thing is that daycare has not mentioned anything about it and I've never heard her say while we are out in public, only while we are at home.