In some families, however, the f-word is not what you’d expect. George Carlin did not speak for all of us when he named seven words that can’t be said on television. Every family comes up with its own, and it should total way more than seven.
My children were saddled with a mother who grew up overweight, and so “fat,’’ used as a descriptive, was their first forbidden word. Another was “butt’’ when referring to anything but a discarded cigarette. I was taught that the word was crude and offensive, but this was 20 years before “10 Ways to Tone and Sculpt Your Butt!’’ became standard magazine fare, an atrocity for which Helen Gurley Brown is to blame.
In last Wednesday’s “Modern Family,’’ entitled “Little Bo Bleep,’’ 2-year-old Lily learns - how to put it? - a new word. From the complaints that the episode produced, you’d think at least some of the nation shares my delicate sensibilities toward language. But when it comes to profanity, I’m apparently more delicate than most.
Many parents don’t seem to mind their children’s use of “OMG’’ delivered by text or exclamation. It is, however, the abbreviation of “Oh, my God,’’ which, when not followed by “I am heartily sorry for my sin,’’ used to be known as taking the Lord’s name in vain. But hang out at any playground for a while, and you’ll hear it, with confession not threatened.
Then there’s the too-commonly used phrase “What the?’’ It’s short for, at best, “What the hell?’’ I hear kids say this all the time in the presence of parents who never raise an eyebrow, much less a threatening hand.
Small offenses, yes, not George Carlin words, but in a child, cause for potty-mouth training.
Sometimes, I’ve wondered if we’re too late, if we’re so inured to profanity in movies and music that we no longer react to it in our kids. But the criticism of “Little Bo Bleep’’ gives me hope.
