Out of the Mouths of Babes

Sooner or later it happens to every parent. You sit there and suddenly a word or phrase pops out of your kid's mouth that is at once inappropriate and all too familiar. Like the other night: Tam's resting on the couch, Ev and I are sitting in chairs watching the Yankees and the Red Sox. There was a wild pitch, it hit the catcher's shoe, and went flying off behind the plate allowing a runner to score.

Suddenly, as if a button had been pushed, Evan jumps to life: "What-the-hell! Did you see that. He kicked the ball!! That's ridiculous!"

I calmly explained to Ev that the catcher did not kick the ball, he was struck by a wild pitch. Then I turned and glanced in the direction of the couch where Tam's head had popped right up over the armrest at the sound of Evan's astute commentary.

We ended up just letting it pass. No lecture. No correction. No scolding. We figured he'd learned it from his grand father, rolled our eyes, and shook our heads. Then, of course, we found ourselves using the same expression a half dozen times between the two of us over the next two days.

It's not so much that he used the expression that gives a parent concern. It's the thought of getting that note sent home from school one day in the not too distant future.  We can try rehearsing now, "we have no idea where he would learn to say something like that!" His teacher doesn't have kids of her own. It might work. Then again, we'd only be fooling ourselves. Everyone knows how this happens.

At this point I guess we can just be glad he's using his expletives in the proper setting and context. His response did seem rather spot-on.