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I try to model the tamest language I can for my kids, though, believe me, f bombs have escaped!

However, overall my feeling is that some less-than-ideal language from kids isn't very important. I'd rather focus on intention and kindness. My 3 year old recently started to say "stupid" and that bothers me way more than "heck" because of the potential for hurting others.

I have no problem with “what the heck”. I don’t like Oh my God. Kids at daycare say it, but so far I’ve told my kid that I don’t like it and why and she’s getting better.

“Shut up”, “hate” (i “hate that shirt etc) and mean names like stupid etc are the big ones I have really tried to strike from my vocabulary. I curse. and it’s awful and I’m working on it, but for me, hurtful language is a bigger issue I don’t want to pass on.

@MrsGeePerez: I think it’s hilarious and cute when my son says what the heck in just the perfect context. I agree that stupid or hate are way worse!

My 2.5 year old says “what the heck?!” and it’s pretty much the cutest thing ever to us. We’re not religious at all, so it doesn’t bother me that my older son (almost 6) has picked up “oh my god” or “Jesus” although I’m working with him on toning that down before public school because our town in general is pretty conservative & I don’t want him to get in trouble. (He went through a “shit” phase a while back and we worked through him saying that one.)
Honestly, my expletives are horrible and I try to censor myself around the kids, but I don’t give much attention to “bad” words when my kids say them. We talk about how most people don’t like hearing those words from children & how we have to be careful about words we use outside the home. I’m MUCH more concerned about their intentions when speaking, so name-calling (“stupid, dumb”), blaming (“you did/should have/your fault”), and cruelty (“you can’t play with me”, “you’re not my friend”) are all treated way more seriously.

@Foodnerd81: B says “what the what!” too and it makes me laugh every time.

I’m not sure how to handle “hate”. I think it’s fine to hate things but not people but then...I hate Donald Trump and I hate Doug Ford, so why can’t he hate people? He’s in a phase where he says “I hate you!” to my husband and I when he gets really mad and so far I just say “well, I hope you’ll feel differently when you stop being angry” but I’m not sure that’s the best approach.

What the heck, wouldnt bother me
Holy Moly and oh my gosh not too much either

My daughter 3.5 started saying I'm only kidding when she changed her mind...for some reason that bothered me lol
I told her to just say I changed my mind
Stupid, shut up , ass etc... drive me crazy!

I'd never imagine that "what the heck?" would be offensive. That's the sanitized version! It does bug me when my students (4th/5th graders) use just "what the . . ." and then trail off, as my mind fills it in to be very profane!

My daughter first correctly used "goddammit!" when she was about 18 months old. Apparently that is my go to toe stubbing/task forgetting/food spilling curse, and she picked it up. She says "goddammit" or "dammit" occasionally, but I don't make a big deal about it, as I think that's more likely to make it stick in her mind. Right now, I am focused more on shaping her use of heteronormative and exclusionary language (e.g. labeling everyone/thing as the "mama", "dada", and "baby") than worrying about profanity.

I was raised where fart, shut up, hell were swear words. My favorite words are "fuck", "Christ" And "mother effer!". But not around my 2.5 year old.
I also teach 10-12th grade and routinely say "what the heck", "crap", and "Jesus"! I need to tone it done. Now.
But I do feel like today's society is way more accepting of coarse language. Students get away with soooooo much at my school (muttering "shit" under their breath or screaming "HEY BITCH" down the hall). I think language has relaxed. Not sure it's a good thing but I will let me kid say "fart", "crap" and "oh my God". As long as he's a good little polite human otherwise I don't worry too much. Maybe I should.

It reminds me of the time my mom said, with a complete look of horror on her face, "Your grandmother has picked up some really dirty language in her old age - I don't know how to tell her that it really upsets me when she curses in my house." My brother and I were like "what did grandma say?" expecting something really bad. Turns out it was "shit". My brother and I looked at each other and said "that's not a curse word." I've got to start watching my language, like pronto, or that might be LO's first word (heaven forbid around my mother )

I don’t understand what the heck is wrong with heck . I guess this is getting into a question of values? Oh my god doesn’t bother me because I’m an atheist so that’s just not a thing. Obviously bad words are off limits and I don’t tolerate name calling, racist words or typical four letter words (f bomb etc). The fact that heck could be construed as bad truly boggles my mind.

My son picked up Shit! in the moment and Fuck it! because he walked into my aunt’s room and a TV show was on and he heard it. He repeated the words a few times with the same excitement they were uttered. In neither case did I acknowledge what he said or try to censor it. These are just words at the moment. If he were to start using them in the correct context like something doesn’t go his way and he says Shit! like when I do then I would likely come up with a better alternative. I will say that instead of using phrases to express my dissappointment 90% of the time I will say “oh no, mommy” needs/ forget/ can’t/ hurt... and really share what’s going on. Do you think you could bite your tongue and formulate a sentence to explain/ express what’s happening and how you feel?

I always say “Jesus Dh Name!” When he pisses me off or something. Now, my 3 year old DD says “Jesus Dh name!” Yeah, whoops. She just started saying bleh bleh bleh when we are trying to tell her not to do something. Like, “bleh bleh bleh now give me back my ball!” Yeah, not cool and it getting your way with that ‘tude!

We don't curse at home and I agree things like stupid, shut up, hate, I would not like. I try to model at home but who knows what escapes my mouth! My 3.5 year old recently learned 'nasty' lol but mostly in regards to poop

@FaithFertility: my 3.5-year-old also says "I was only kidding" thing to when I say no to things he wants to do. I understand where it's coming from but I want him to own what he says. "Kidding" doesn't change hurtful language or desires. He's using it in such a small way.. but still. I think he got it from Llama Llama TV show...