What the #@&$

The other day while getting buckled up to head to the local free watering hole, in the back seat I heard Grace(my sweet baby girl of just 5) exclaim: " Isabel, what the hell?"

My other kids' eyes got really big, I turned my head to hide the fact that I was trying not to laugh, and Grace began to cry.  She immediately recognized her folly and punished herself by removing herself from the 'burb and proclaiming that she was in trouble and couldn't go anymore.  The kids were dumb founded, I followed her into the house all the while Grace is crying hysterically. 

Later that evening at dinner the kids wanted to me to tell Brent about Grace.  When I did, he looked directly at me and said, "Hmm, I wonder where she got that from?" 

Here's where I admit that I have a small, small swearing problem. People, when I say small, I mean small. I usually swear to get my kids attention, or when I'm angry with the dog(which is pretty often). When I swear in front of my teenage son he always acts so shocked and reprimands me for my behavior.   I even told him the other day that I would be very upset with him if I heard that he himself swears at school(Cuz I know kids do when they are away from Mom and Dad).  He immediately told me that he's never sworn before, on purpose.  He then continued to tell me that he thinks swearing is stupid and makes people look UN-intelligent. He then asked me why it is that I swear.  I told him it was my way to rebel.  It's like that song, "You don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?"  Well, I swear.  He then asked me why I have to rebel?    I guess I don't have anything to rebel against.  I just like feeling like a rebel every now and then and enjoying the shock factor. 

 Hearing my 5 year old daughter swear was a wake up call to me that I need to be better.  I set high standards for my children, and I need to make sure that I am living up to those standards as well.  Cutting out swearing is going to be a lot easier for me then cutting out my Diet Coke.