I am not one to go around cursing on a daily basis but I’ll admit there are a few frustrating occasions where I have let a bad word slip while my three year old has been around. I usually realize it right away {or my husband points it out} and I try to keep talking so Hayden doesn’t pick up on it.
Bad Mom Confession coming here: there’s been a few times where Hayden has repeated a bad word that I’ve said. And you know what? I’ve laughed. That is probably the worst possible thing a parent can do when their toddler uses a curse word. Because when a parent laughs, the toddler perceives it as something adorable they have done and they will repeat it!
Honestly though? I don’t think I’m a terrible mom for it happening and Hayden hasn’t repeated it outside the house. In fact, about 5 minutes after the situation, he forgot it.
One of my favorite shows is Modern Family and in last week’s episode “Little Bo Bleep”, 3 year old lily drops the ‘F-bomb’ quite a few times. Before the show aired, I read SO many articles about the Parents Television Council and how outraged they were at this episode and wanted ABC not to air it.
I was actually glad that they were going to air this episode. It means I’m not alone, right? I know there are parents out there where their child has said a curse word. It’s real life. It happens. And I reacted the exact same way as the character Cameron reacted when Lily cursed. He laughed. {Oh geez, I am totally thinking I am more Cameron and my husband is more like Mitchell}.
There’s a lot of people upset that the episode aired and that a 2 year old was shown cussing on the show. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays Mitchell on Modern Family told E! that when they were filming the scenes, the young actress “did not actually say the F-word on the show. We said the very innocent word fudge, but people are all up in arms about that. This is not child abuse . . . We’re not making her cuss.”
What do you think about this controversy? Do you think ABC should have aired the episode?
Well, it can be funny if it’s not your child. I’d like to know when everyone decided the “F” word is acceptable. I don’t like hearing it in a movie for adults, so no, even acting like the child said it isn’t acceptable to me. If a child says such a word, it just means the parents are either using it, or watching movies in front of the child with unacceptable language. When you have children, you have to make some sacrifices. Watch the movie with nude scenes or rough language after the children have gone to bed.
This is also my favorite show! The husband even loves it. We wait for Wednesday nights just so we can see what this silly family is up to. Truly, we love this show because it’s real. The situations they feature are what happen to real people every day. And a cursing toddler is no different. Unfortunately, I’d be Mitchell freaking out while my husband laughed it up.
Good for ABC airing this episode. I had no idea people were upset! There are far more serious things in life to be upset over. Modern Family, is not one of them!
I have had six children and cussed through them all. Not one, until Kinsley, ever repeated anything I said. She is the parrot of the family.
One day, the dogs outside kept barking and barking and I had had it. I went to the door opened and told them to shut the eff up. Later that day, we wouldn’t let her do something she wanted and what did she say to us? I laughed.
I am not a bad mom. It’s human nature. It was funny seeing such a little person say that. And I have the most well balanced children on earth because I don’t shelter them from the world.
Now, of course, she is well aware that some words are bad and shouldn’t be said. She will police us even if we cuss. I don’t see anything wrong with the episode you described. It’s part of raising kids and that’s what makes it funny.
It was never an issue for me because I don’t swear, but I can see how it is something parents who use occasional colorful language would have to think about. I agree with Mary – the “F” word is used way too casually and I still cringe when I hear it out in public – especially when it comes form pre-teens and teens.
As to the Modern Family episdoe – much ado about nothing!
I don’t watch the show but I’m glad they tackled this topic. I’ve got a pottymouth and have heard it back myself so it happens to many of us. I’m glad they portrayed it accurately.
It was so very obvious that she wasn’t saying the real word, so really? Why get all bent? There is a rare child out there who hasn’t said something we’d rather they didn’t say, be it a curse word or something else.
I love that show because it’s REAL.