Unexpectedly Inappropriate Words Spoken by Young Children: A Parent's Perspective
Parenting young children can be an adventure, but sometimes those adventures are a bit more unexpected than anticipated. Here are a couple of instances where I experienced some of the most unexpectedly inappropriate things coming out of a young child's mouth.
1. The Unfortunate Discovery of Profanity
One sunny Sunday afternoon, I found myself engrossed in weekend television, when my 2-year-old son walked into the room and started playing with his toy cars. Every few minutes, I would hear him mumble "fuck." At first, I dismissed it as a misheard word, but as the words repeated consistently, I became increasingly concerned. I finally lost my composure and asked him where he had learned such a naughty word. To my shock, he was holding a toy truck, and the corner of his little face had an expression of genuine surprise under the tears. The ice cream and cuddles that day became a symbol of my meltdown of emotions over what he had said.
2. The Horrific Speech at the Mall
Another instance that has been haunting me for years occurred while I was shopping at a mall. Sitting at a nearby table was a woman with her child on her lap. I could see that the child, who appeared to be 5 or 6 years old, was agitated and very angry. Instead of the typical meltdowns such as "I hate you," the child blurted out, "I'll kill you. I'll cut your eyes out. I'll cut out your heart." My initial thought was to ask what the child had been watching, but it soon dawned on me that the child might have picked up such morbid language from a violent father. The ashamed look on the woman's face, who was wearing a traditional hijab, added to the shock and concern. It wasn't until later that home that the connection to his father's behavior surfaced in my mind.
3. Library Misadventure: A 3 Year Old's Foul Mouth
Diving into my professional life as a public librarian, I had to deal with more than just reading books. One day, the usually well-behaved children were more rambunctious than usual, causing complaints from the senior adult patrons. I requested the children to quiet down when a little boy of 3 or 4 promptly responded with "Fyou." This was a profound surprise, especially since he was the youngest among siblings who were known for their foul mouth. It clearly highlighted the impact of their environment on their language development.
These stories serve as a reminder of the young minds' curiosity and the influence of their environment. As parents and professionals, it's crucial to address such incidents with empathy and understanding.
Understanding and acknowledging the hurdles and challenges, such as inappropriate words, can help us better navigate the world of parenting and child development.