"Oh sh--"

This post is rated PG for adult language. Reader discretion is advised.

Shortly before Kiera turned two, she started listening to what we were saying very carefully and mimicking it. Now I am no sailor, but I know my share of curse words. My wife, on the other hand, is a Chicago Public School teacher and and has learned some very creative language from her students. So we tried to be careful what we were saying in front of the girl. I even started saying "son-u-mar bitch" instead of "son of a bitch," to keep the phrase far from her vocabulary.

One day, however, my wife said "Oh shit" after dropping a box of cereal.

We hoped that Kiera didn't pick it up, but several days later Kiera was playing with a necklace when she dropped it and said "Oh shit."

"You really shouldn't say that," said Patricia.

"Yes I should," Kiera said. "I dropped it."

Who could argue with that logic?

So my wife and I tried very hard not to empower that word. If Kiera said it again, we wouldn't hop up and down yelling. We would very carefully choose our words and tell her that saying that is not appropriate.

One day, Patricia had Kiera strapped into her carseat, they were cut off by another car and Patricia muttered "Oh shit" under her breath.

"Mommy, did you say 'Oh shit?'" Kiera asked.

"Oh, I really shouldn't say that" my wife replied. "We really shouldn't say that word."

"We shouldn't say 'Oh shit?'" the youngling inquired.

"Right," Patricia affirmed.

"You mean 'Oh shit?"

"You shouldn't say that."

"You shouldn't say 'Oh shit?'" Kiera asked again.

"Kiera, stop saying that," said my wife.

"Stop saying what?" Kiera asked. "'Oh shit?'"

At that point, my wife had to pull over because she was laughing so hard.