Death to the Potty Words

Do you know what I hate worse than honking? When my kids (specifically the boy one and sometimes his dad) use potty language. You know the words that I am talking about. It is gross. And I want to wage war on the potty talk.

My usual course of correction has become more like play time than a punishment. When Z says potty words, I make him clean the toilet and trash cans. My lesson for him is that when he talks like that people will think of a toilet. If he talks trash, people will think he is a trashy boy. That correction worked for a while. I will have to say it had his attention and was effective.

Not anymore.

It seems like it is getting worse. These are not words make a mama proud. Mind you, these are not THE WORDS, but potty words. These are words that may not bother you. They bother me. I do have to say that I am a reformed cusser. Skip and I vowed to stop cussing when we first got married. We had to pay a quarter for every bad word we said (potty words were exempt). Long story short, we ended up raising enough money in the Cussing Jar to buy a dog. It turned out to be a fundraiser, but it worked for both of us. Now it is hard to see the same root of sin take hold of my child (much lesser degree, but still).

After listening to Z talk today I warned him against using these words. I told him that we would clean the toilet and he said "Yay!" I knew that I had to resort to something else. I told him that we would clean out his mouth with soap the next potty word he said. Maybe that was a dare. He looked me right in the eye and said..."POOP."

Something in my brain snapped. I grabbed his arm and we headed right to the bathroom. This was going to be the end all punishment. Except I couldn't figure out which soap to use. I couldn't use my Bath & Body soap (Alana!), I couldn't use the heavy duty anti-germ soap, I couldn't use shampoo. I didn't know what to do. He thought he was getting a free pass on this soap rinsing thing until I stormed in the kitchen with his toothbrush and used dish soap.

We cleaned out his mouth and he spit for 5 minutes. I hope that was lesson learned. I know it was a risky punishment. Afterwards we were able to talk (without spit) and I hope conveyed the meaning behind making our words reflect our character. He has accepted Christ as his personal savior so he is a new creation. The old yucky stuff is gone and the new is made fresh.

It is a good reminder for me, too. It is easy to let your guard down and say or do things that leave you with regrets. It happens all the time. I am thankful that forgiveness has already been paid for on the cross. I need to spend more time with my savior and let Him give me the correction I deserve....

It has now been 15 minutes and nary a potty, trashy word has been said. This may be the start of something! (pause while L tells me he said another potty word)

I spoke too soon. Off to rinse and spit again. This is going to be a tough road.