A good general rule of thumb
I was in class yesterday (like the good Mormon boy I am) and couldn't help but reflect on a comment made. We were discussing how to better treat the women in our lives (it was in Elders Quorum - side note, what is the proper name of that quorum? Is it Elders' Quorum or Elders Quorum??). One of our quorum members mentioned that, in his teaching career, he often hears language that blows him away. When such language came out of a student whose parents this good man knew, he pulled the student aside and asked him where he had heard such language. The student stated that it had come from tv or his friends.
The teacher then said, "When it comes to the language you use, you can always guarantee that it is safe to use an expression if you've heard your parents use it."
Now, obviously this only worked because the teacher knew this students' parents. But it remains a pretty good rule of thumb (depending on your parents).
What hurt is realizing some of the things my kids might say that they could honestly tell their teachers they HAD heard come out of my mouth. It made me a little nervous about how I talk to/about people and some of the phrases I employ at times. While I am not one for much swearing (a few gros mots slip out every now and again), I often employ other terms that are not the best.
One my son has picked up on is the word idiot. I've heard him use it occasionally and realize that I'm setting myself up for that classic retort that comes from the first anti-smoking commercial I believe I ever saw - "I learned it from watching you!" I've since tried to eliminate my use of that word (stupid is another word we are working on).
For most this may seem rather innocuous, mundane even, but in my efforts to be more civil (see previous post), I am attempting to eliminate those words from my vocabulary that really do nothing to add any substance. Hopefully, then, some day I'll be able to be sure that my kids won't return home from school with a note explaining some phrase they used at school knowing full well that they learned it from me.
The teacher then said, "When it comes to the language you use, you can always guarantee that it is safe to use an expression if you've heard your parents use it."
Now, obviously this only worked because the teacher knew this students' parents. But it remains a pretty good rule of thumb (depending on your parents).
What hurt is realizing some of the things my kids might say that they could honestly tell their teachers they HAD heard come out of my mouth. It made me a little nervous about how I talk to/about people and some of the phrases I employ at times. While I am not one for much swearing (a few gros mots slip out every now and again), I often employ other terms that are not the best.
One my son has picked up on is the word idiot. I've heard him use it occasionally and realize that I'm setting myself up for that classic retort that comes from the first anti-smoking commercial I believe I ever saw - "I learned it from watching you!" I've since tried to eliminate my use of that word (stupid is another word we are working on).
For most this may seem rather innocuous, mundane even, but in my efforts to be more civil (see previous post), I am attempting to eliminate those words from my vocabulary that really do nothing to add any substance. Hopefully, then, some day I'll be able to be sure that my kids won't return home from school with a note explaining some phrase they used at school knowing full well that they learned it from me.
posted by Micah Bruner at 4:41 PM
2 Comments:
Great post! I completely agree with you! I remember when my kids were about the age of yours and hearing them say some things that I say was pretty embarrassing. Unfortunately, that only gets worse as they get older, and we continue to struggle with some words which, although not swear words, are certainly not anything you want your sweet daughter (or son!) saying.
It is very eye opening when you start hearing your children say things that you wished they wouldn't. It makes you more aware of what is coming out of your mouth!!
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