BREAKFAST & SWEAR WORDS

Many times through our grandchildren's lives - I have talked to their parents about "behaviors". I prefer they don't use the words naughty, shut-up, sassy, brat, acting up etc... I strongly believe in my heart if you tell a child he is "naughty", somewhere in his heart he will start to think that is what he is.
Or, if you tell a child she is a"brat" - somewhere it sinks into her heart and she believes that she is indeed a brat.
I believe that my kids have learned that this is the way I think. You should not speak bad words over your kids. We do understand that yes, there is often a need for discipline, especially in those young years where they are exploring, finding out just what they can get by with and what they can't. The most important thing is that they know that they are "good", but the behavior they are showing is not what you expect from them.
...for my point I will talk about Conner D. here for a little while.
We have gotten to see the little guy quite a bit this summer. One fine day when he was looking through the cupboards, (thinking he needed to have a Reese's peanut butter cup at 8:00 in the morning), I gently informed him that he would be having a good breakfast to start his day. YES, as you can imagine, he didn't agree with me. It became a little "power match" with Conner D informing me...
"JACIANNA SAID A SWEAR WORD LIKE ONLY THE PARENTS CAN DO."
I looked at Conner trying to figure out where he was coming from - but, I dropped it figuring he was just trying to tattle on his sister. I went on getting his eggs and toast ready for that wonderful breakfast that he was going to like so much!
"I WANT A REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUP"
..."Well, little guy, your not having one. I am making you some eggs and toast and that is what you will be eating."
"DO YOU WANT ME TO SWEAR?" he says with this very angry look on his face...
"DO YOU WANT ME TO SWEAR LIKE ONLY THE PARENTS CAN?"
...well, I am quite proud of myself here - I continue to make the breakfast and I don't start laughing. I take the Reese's peanut butter cup and tell him if he doesn't quit I will count to three and throw it into the garbage can with all the other swear words I have heard in my life!
He goes to his chair at the kitchen table, sits down and eats his eggs and toast and asked me...
"SO, ARE ANY OF MY PARENTS SWEAR WORDS IN THE GARBAGE?"