The things we say!

As a Mrs. title holder I have the blessing of having a wonderful young stepson.  As I have grown into my position as "Mom" in the past few years I have noticed things that I hadn't in the past.  The last few days I've been stuck in the house with a very bad sinus cold.  This has given me very little to do except watch television.  I don't watch a lot of the usual things, however I do watch a LOT of HGTV and home make-over shows, etc.  In watching these in the last few days I have noticed a pattern.  Children repeat the speech patterns of their elders in almost a frighteningly perfect imitation.  If the parent has poor grammar, so does the child.  If the parent uses an inordinate amount of slang, so does the child.  One particular item truly slammed into me this weekend and that is the way people exclaim their surprise and happiness.  In my home the term "Oh my God" is tantamount to using the Lord's name in vain and we just don't do it.  In fact it holds the same punishment as saying a curse word.  In most of the cases on these shows, especially "Extreme Make-over, Home Edition" the families, most of them holding true to a deep faith, whatever their faith, and truly involved in philanthropic endeavors used the kinder/gentler "oh my goodness" or "oh my gosh", but occasionally the dreaded other could be heard.  However, in EVERY SINGLE FAMILY depicted, in the child saw their room and used the statement that we do not use the parent used it in their room as well.  Conversely, if the child used gosh or goodness so did the parent.  Parents, and those who are around children, what you say to children is of paramount importance, of course, but what you say when you don't think they can hear you or are listening is just as, if not more, important.  Take the time to teach by example by being a leader...and this does take more time.  Don't use the "textspeak" OMG as that implies the bad one.  Teach your children that using the Lord's name for anything other than praise is not acceptable by not only telling them that but by not using it yourself.  In fact, go one further, don't even use "oh my gosh" as there is room for that being mis-heard.  Opt for "oh my goodness" or anything else that fits your vernacular.  There is no reason to tell your child they cannot curse yet allow them to say, well, you know what!