It is such a struggle in today’s world to protect your child’s ears and eyes from words that are harmful to them. I always cringe when I hear people swearing in public or I see rude things written on park picnic tables. I know that they are just words and that they have no real power except that which we give them — but as a Mom, I feel it is my job to keep my kids naive to such things.
When my kids were younger, we referred to them as “Potty words” or “Potty talk.” My son went through a phase (like most boys) where he loved to use simple potty words (not the real bad stuff, just the basics like “poop”) for shock value. Kids think these things are so funny. We finally resorted to sending him to the bathroom every time he said one of these words. “Well, you MUST have to go if you’re talking like that!” He eventually stopped. Well, mostly anyway.
So, when we were at our local
children’s museum (the A. C. Gilbert’s Discovery Museum), I was quite surprised to hear my little girl — about five at the time — shout from the bathroom stall: “MOM! THERE’S POTTY WORDS ON THE WALLS IN HERE!”
As usual, I cringed. “Just don’t look honey!”
“I can’t help it, they’re right in front of me!”
“Just use the potty, sweetie. Don’t read the walls.”
Imagine my shock when she calls back, “And there’s PICTURES, too!”
I stormed in there, ready to blindfold my child and lead her to safety. Who would possible desecrate the bathroom of a children’s museum of all places? It’s not like we were at a bus station or something!
When I saw the offending wall, I about wet my own pants. With laughter. Yes — there WERE potty words on the wall. And the children’s museum may be the only place you would find these type of potty words. I’ll attach the photo. If you are easily offended… well, you’ve been warned!
Related Posts: I can’t believe this, but I’ve actually blogged twice before about my kids and bad words. If you care to read them, check out “Hot Chicks and Bad Words” and “The Principal’s Office.”
P.S. If you happened to be following the story of Freedom the butterfly (see the posts: Power of a Name and It is for Freedom…), well, she’s finally free. She’s winging her way around her Maker’s heaven as we speak. The words from one of my favorite old songs seemed appropriate to her short life. “Some bright morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away. To that home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away, Oh glory, I’ll fly away. When I die, Hallelujah by and by — I’ll fly away.” Maybe heaven is a little more beautiful today — decorated by one more beautiful pair of wings.
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It is such a struggle in today’s world to protect your child’s ears and eyes from words that are harmful to them. I always cringe when I hear people swearing in public or I see rude things written on park picnic tables. I know that they are just words and that they have no real power except that which we give them — but as a Mom, I feel it is my job to keep my kids naive to such things.
Potty words are toxic! and children and adults should not be exposed to them.
Blessings, andrea
LOL! Loved the end. But it is very difficult in today’s world, short of putting earplugs in kids ears, to keep them from the barrage of negative words. Sounds like you’re doing a good job of steering your kids clear of them. Blessings to you!