You're Pis*ing me off!

Spoken from the mouths of babes. I battled myself over whether I should write about this situation, and then decided that this must happen to everyone eventually, so why not. We can't all be perfect all the time.

It was about 7:45 last night when Camdyn uttered the subject phrase barely above a whisper. She was sitting next to me at the kitchen table and she was trying to convince me that she should be able to watch Go Diego one last time before bed. I was holding my ground and supporting daddy's "No TV it's bedtime" standpoint when she whispered, "it's pissing me off - the TV." I wasn't sure I heard her correctly and I asked her to repeat herself. I was really hoping she said "ticking." She repeated herself and I said, "Camdyn, that is a daddy word. We are girls and we don't use those words." I then moved her upstairs for bedtime, hoping that this was just a fluke.

Now her teachers have advised me over the years not to focus on negative words or behavior and to correct them and then quickly move on and redirect them to something else. Awhile back Camdyn picked up the phrase "Oh MY GAWD" at school and repeated it incessantly. Man, I thought that was bad...now this is worse. At least in that instance I could blame the child at school whom Cam picked the phrase up from. This time, it's daddy's words she's copying. On occasion, after Camdyn has come out of her bed for the 10th time for a hug or a glass or water, Chris will reach his boiling point and those words will fly out of his mouth before he realizes it. We're human and as Sugarland says "pshhhh - It Happens."

So, now we are upstairs and we brushed teeth and pottied. We read a story and Camdyn is begging me for more play time. I tell her no and that mommy makes the rules and that it is bedtime. Her response, "You are pissing me off!" Humph. This time said in the appropriate context and in the appropriate tone of voice. Oh dear. So, I had to try hard to keep from laughing, because this is not funny, but somehow I was stifling a grin. Why? I guess because she has no idea that the words are bad, but knows what context to use them in. Accolades to her for that. However, it seems grossly beyond her capability at 3 1/2 years old. So, I remind Camdyn that those words are not for mommies and little girls to use and tell her that the next time she uses them, her beloved Khan Kuay elephant is going to be put away for a day. She didn't utter those words again and went to bed (sort of).

I debated telling her teachers this morning about this and then decided that I would just look shocked and floored should they ever witness this or approach me about it. After all, I don't want to dwell on it. So, carry on.

As for daddy, I shot him a look to kill and he realized that this is the byproduct of his frustration. Although we all get frustrated, he's going to have to pick better words. Children using inappropriate language is the farthest thing from "cute" and seems to rob them of their innocence.

I'm sure that elementary school will bring more of these scenarios. Oh the joys....