Stop Swearing in my language

Stop Swearing in my language 

After an international move, my daughter came home one day from school and called me a horrible word. It starts with an A and ends with hole. She had learned it from her new little friend. I quickly informed her of how unacceptable this was.

As I have learned new languages, I also have made similar mistakes. I would hear new words and use them, not always realizing that they might not be appropriate or polite. On one instance I was running around the local playground in France swearing without even realizing the impact my words were having.  My girlfriends gently told me off.

The students at school loved my explanations on words, "Mrs. Ochs I was listening to a rap, could you explain this word?" Never shy, I explained the word, the context and when NOT to use it. I had a reputation as the go-to person for words, and it was widely known, "Don't swear in Mrs. Ochs' presence or you will get a lecture!"

Pop culture gives can give us the impression swearing is normal, something we do. I beg to differ;  words are important, so choose them wisely.

–Allison Ochs, Social Worker M.S.W. , Coach, Expat, Mother of three, Wife

Photo by Gary Bendig on Unsplash