Q: I understand that many consider corporal punishment and so called spankings (hidings in South Africa) to be an excessive use of force in contemporary times but was wondering if peppering a childs mouth when swearing is also considered excessive? My 5 year old son picked up the word "B*tch" at school and now thinks it funny to label me as such when confronted with the word "No", so far I have been tolerant and only spoken to him about it but may in future consider more appropriate action.....?
A: He he he he.........yes it must be quite embarrasing when he calls you that in the shops!! What I did is to confuse them, tell him he has it wrong there is no word like that, the correct word is ditch. That is what I did with fcuk it, when my son heard that some where and keep on saying it.....I told him you got it wrong, boy it is bucket. I agree with Alf, do not make too much of it, he is still small. My mother used to wash my brothers mouth out with soap and put curry powder on his tongue, nothing happened to him, it was not as if she made him ate a whole box of OMO.....