oh, crap

Yesterday I helped out in Liam's Sunday School class, which is aptly (or not so aptly) called Godly Play. While we were waiting for all the kids to arrive, Liam and a couple of the other preschool/kindergarteners were in the art room busily cutting, drawing, painting, etc. Liam was cutting little pieces of construction paper for his make-shift envelope on which he had boldly scrawled "LIAM LOVE SECRET DAD LOVE LIAM." At one point in his over-exhuberance with the scissors, he cut a piece too small, in half, not quite to his specifications (I never really understood the error) and intoned loudly, while stamping a foot for extra emphasis, "Oh, crap!" Then, rather dramatically, he dropped the scissors and sat down with a huff.

Alternating between concern and embarrassment (this was church afterall!) and desperately trying not to laugh, I patted him gently and said, "Liam, honey, we can find another piece of paper to cut. Let's not use language like that."

He looked at me and shrugged, "Whatever, mom."

In the last few weeks it has become clear to me that we are at the age of imitation and I am in serious trouble. In addition to "Oh, crap" and "whatever," Liam consistently (and appropriately) has been using the expression, "Oh my gone!" Such as when he rolls five Wolverines in Superhero Jr. Yahtzee or when he discover his missing blankie was somehow dropped between the car and the house and is covered in mud. I swear (no pun intended) that I do not (knowingly) take the Lord's name in vain but I have been known to utter "oh, crap" on a pretty regular basis. So now what? Do the preschool teachers think we're a potty mouth family over here? Is my son developing, God forbid, attitude? Do we nip it in the bud or just ignore and try to limit our curses to "fiddle sticks" and "goodness gracious?"

It's a good thing Elliott doesn't talk yet. I have a chance to redeem myself and raise a gentle soul from whose lips not a single curse is uttered. But I better start soon. He's already listening.