Dad’s hilarious parenting moment sparks a debate on swearing around kids

Parents often strive to model good behavior for their kids, but sometimes their habits slip, leading to hilarious and eye-opening moments. One dad, known as u/G_Affect on Reddit, recently shared a story about how he accidentally cursed in front of his three-year-old daughter, only to be hilariously reprimanded by the little one.

The dad recounted how he stubbed his toe and, in a moment of pain, muttered "F***" under his breath. Unfortunately for him, his daughter was standing right there and heard every word. Without missing a beat, she scolded him, saying, "Dad, that's a bad word, don't say F***!" The girl's mother, overhearing the exchange from across the room, quickly added, "Little girl, don't say that!"

But the story didn’t end there. With the unwavering confidence only a toddler can muster, the little girl looked her dad straight in the eyes and said, "See, it's a bad word," reinforcing her own point.

In a follow-up, the dad explained that while he and his wife don't think swearing is a huge deal, they try to curb their daughter’s use of such language to avoid her getting into trouble at school. "My wife and I don't really care or think it is a big deal. But we don't want her to get in trouble at school or with friends so we try to stop it without making it taboo. Her favorite thing to say is 'dumb a******.' Her toy not working, 'dumb a******.' Pool tries to drown her, 'dumb a******.' Brother being a brother, 'dumb a******.' The picture she is drawing does not come out the way she hoped, 'dumb a******.'"

His tale sparked a lively and surprisingly thoughtful discussion among other Reddit users, many of whom shared their own approaches to dealing with swearing in front of children.

One user, u/hiddensideoftruth, noted that context matters when it comes to swearing. "It's very different when my son says 'Oh s***' after dropping something, compared to if he would say 'Your parents got divorced because of you' to a classmate." Words can be more hurtful depending on how they’re used.

Another user, u/thefatrick, shared a similar sentiment, explaining how they've taught their child that it's okay to swear as a reaction but not as a weapon. "If you stub your toe and say 'Oh f***!' I won't get you in trouble. But if you swear at someone, you'll get in trouble so fast your head will spin."

Others discussed the rules they set for swearing at home. User u/flechette remarked, Allowed to swear in the home when appropriate, not allowed to say it outside the house or at school. They will sub in fricks and darns when out and about and even then they don’t seem inclined to curse like sailors."

These anecdotes highlight the different ways parents navigate the tricky territory of swearing around children. While every family has its own rules, one thing is clear: a slip of the tongue can lead to some unforgettable—and often hilarious—moments.

This article was originally published on August 14, 2024. It has since been updated.