There is a legend in my family that my eldest sister’s first word was ‘shit’, and she chose to demonstrate her new ability in the middle of a fund raising tea by saying it multiple times, while beating on a small toy in the middle of a circle of properly dressed church ladies perched on chairs holding tea cups and saucers.  The reason this was my sister’s first word was because it was my mom’s favourite expression of frustration, still is.  Although memorable first words are great for story telling, this one was a lesson to me.

Before I had children I was a very vocal driver.  I didn’t drive aggressively or gesture rudely but I did have a running commentary about my fellow drivers and their intelligence or extreme lack there of, generously punctuated with colourful expletives.  I decided that I didn’t want those words to be among my children’s firsts so I quit all swearing.  I replaced my driving commentary with only two statements: “Come on lady/man! Learn how to drive.” and “Its not going to get any greener.”  While my eldest son’s first word was ‘apple’, I did almost drive off the road when he, at about 1 1/2 years old, piped up from the back seat “Come on lady!  Learn how to drive” for the first time.

Now that my children are older my no swearing barriers have begun to slip.  A couple years ago I had my first step on the slippery slope of cursing.  It started with a really bad day and a room silencing ‘shut up’.   Some of the music I listen to has swearing that I merrily sing along to.  I still try not to swear (not including February – that month is designed for ‘f’ words), but I am not always successful.  I will occasionally catch myself mid derailment.  Yesterday was one of those moments.  My middle son was with me, I was doing…I don’t recall what but obviously it wasn’t going as planned.  I must have been somewhat aware of my audience and my continued attempts to be a good example, because, whatever direction my words were going, what came out was ‘fruck’.  My son is the sort that finds great humour in the creature that is his mother.  After a look of extreme befuddlement directed at me, he burst out laughing and then ran off to share his mother’s new venture into verbal mess ups.  I guess if I can’t always be a good example at least I can be entertaining.