But I’ve got a new one to enter.

First swear word.

My little  3-year-old outfielder was waiting patiently for his cousin to hit him a ball at grandma’s house on Easter.  He waited and waited. Begged for a ball to come his way.  Finally, it happened.  The ball tumbled his way. He ran up, glove on hand and wanted nothing more than to catch that ball in his mitt.

But he missed.

And then it came out.

“Oh, S**T!”

I think I about fell over from shock.  How could such a young, innocent mouth use such a bad word?  Not wanting to make the biggest scene on the lawn at grandma’s, I put the seriousness in my eyes and voice. “What did you say? Who told you that?”

He cowered and told me who he heard it from.  Still in shock, I let him know in no uncertain terms he is not to use that word again.  But I’m scared to know what’s next.

Have a toddler who used a bad word?  Did you ignore it or punish them?  Let me know here or e-mail me at esmith@opubco.com. I’d love to hear from you.

-Erica Smith