How to react (or not react) to cursing?

MamaNikki

DS was playing in the bathtub the other night, talking to himself and his little Buzz and Woody toys.  Then I overhear Woody get trapped under a drum and DS (speaking as Woody) said, "God d*mmit!" 

I have no idea where he heard that.  DH and I do not say it.  When I told DH what Cole said, DH said, "Now, I'll admit I have let an f-bomb slip, but I know I've never said THAT."  I've never said it either.

When I asked DS where he heard that word, he said, "Bella says it."  A daycare classmate.  Oy.

So...what to do?  I don't want to make too big a deal out of it and overreact, and let him know that he can use this to rile me up and get a reaction out of me, you know?  But I also want him to know that it's not okay to say that.

What I did was not to really react, but calmly and lightheartedly told him, "Well, it's not really nice to say that.  We can say 'Oh man!' or 'Oh my goodness!' instead, okay?"  I tried to be cool about it, when on the inside I was like .  LOL.

Would anyone have handled it differently? 

brightning

I think you handled it perfectly.

AshlynsMom

Ditto.  I also say "that's not a kid word.  Oh, man or Oh my goodness are kid words."  That way I don't have to hear, "well, Rickie says it" or "Nana Patricia says it".  (My MIL has a mouth like a sailor.)

Halo79RN

just how you handled it.  explain that it's not nice to say... I only ignore it if they repeatedly say it with the effort to get a rise or seek attention.  

neverblushed

I've had this with both kids a few times.  I generally handle it like you did -- just explain that those words are not very nice, we don't say stuff like that in our family, and then I suggest a replacement that's toned down from actual cursing.

Amy720

Ben said that a few times last summer and when I asked him where he heard it, he told me he heard some men who were remodeling our house say it.  You handled it perfectly to me.  I told Ben it wasn't a nice thing to say and instead to say "God is good" so he said that for a while and has forgotten it I hope.  If we can just get him to quit saying butt crack now, we'll be fine...LOL!