Swear Words

It is spring break at our house.  The week can be summed up in one word...HELL.  Hell is considered a swear word in our house, so don't tell the little ones I used it.  More on the details of hell in another post, but the usage of swear words brings me to the point of this post.  With the kids home this week, Molly has been exposed to the ever popular elementary school topic of what qualifies a word as a swear word.  In addition, the conversation included when is it ok to use swear word and why are some words naughty in your neighbors house, but not in yours.

Honestly, this topic has been discussed since last summer vacation.  But since Molly and I don't ride the school bus where most of these conversations happen, we haven't been privy to the two young Jensen boys analysis of the topic in quite some time.  (although, on a side note, Colin did inform me this week that when he grows up, he will NEVER let his kids ride the school bus.  Because school buses are where you learn ALL the swear words).

So after a full week of conversations happening around her, Molly finally joins the conversation.  It just so happens that one of the neighbor kids informed her that "crappy" is a swear word.  So, she came inside and asked me "Mom, is crappy a swear word?"  The conversation continued like this:

R: Crappy? No crappy is not a swear word.
M: No, crappy.  Is crappy a swear word?
R:  Did you say craPPy or craBBy? (this is where I think I lost my credibility)
M: You know, crappy, like things are not going well.  (at five she defines the word for me...who taught her that?)
R: No, crappy is not a swear word. (then she turns to Zach)
M: Zach, you know all the swear words right?
Z: um, yeah.
M: Is crappy a swear word?
Z: no.
R: Molly, I told you crappy was not a swear word.  Why did you ask Zach?
M: Well Mom, you don't know swear words and Zach does.

So there you have it.  Not only was I a stellar failure of a parent this week, but I can't even be an expert on swear words.  Maybe I should start riding the school bus again.