Potty Talk

With four boys you better believe I hear my share of potty talk. I'm not talking about anything really profane (yet), but the butt and poopy and stupid and crap talk is driving me absolutely out of my mind. I admit that my standards are a bit stringent here. But, with my oldest being 6 I think that's appropriate. My husband says, it's good that I don't allow it, that I tell them not to, but that I need to not let it get to me and maybe just lighten up a bit. Okay, he didn't say that last part, but I'm pretty sure it's true.

I am just rambling and thinking this through here. Sometimes I come here desperate and hoping one of you awesome people that read my blog has my perfect answer. And sometimes, in the midst of typing it all out I come up with something on my own. If nothing else, it's kind of therapeutic.

I feel it only fair to confess that my children learned the word crap and stupid from me. It's true. I'll never ever forget the day that my then three year old (Eric) was struggling to put his pants on and got two legs in one leg hole and said "Cwap cwap cwap." Oh that still makes me giggle. And I am notorious for calling inanimate objects stupid. But I swear that I have never ever called another human being stupid in front of them. Just things. Like pens that don't write, and other stuff that doesn't do what it should. Not that I'm above reproach with my language, but I do attempt to protect them from most of the ones I don't want to hear out of their innocent mouths.

I know without a doubt that it is not okay with me for them to call each other stupid butt, or poopy, or stupid little piece of cap (which actually came out of my 2 year old's mouth recently). I want to teach them to use words to build people up, not tear them down. There is enough negativity in the world and I do not want them to endure that in their own home. So, that I know. But should I lighten up on some of the other stuff. If it's not calling names but just being silly and a teensy bit naughty. That's what I don't know.

A friend of mine tells her boys if they are going to use potty language they can do it in the bathroom. The theory is that it won't be nearly as satisfying to use that language without the audience. My boys tend to play in the water in the bathroom so I hesitate to use that option.

My new tactic is to remove the potty talker from the room. A time out of sorts. Today I sent Mark to the formal living room to sit alone after he went on some tirade about poopy smelling something or other (directed to one of his brothers who did not smell poopy at the time.) It's been about 30 minutes and no more bad words so far... Maybe that will come through for me. I just hate feeling like the big bad mean momma all.the.time.

How do you handle potty talk. Am I too uptight? Do I need to tow the line on this one every single time? What are your thoughts?