May Madness (Day 3) – FREE Zoolio Rainforest Edition Toy
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We have a winner!
Post #15: hmama
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Today, I need your help! So please read and then comment for a chance to win (prize details below).
Conversation between Mommy (me) and Georgia (angelic looking 22 month old).
“Mommy, open.”
“Mommy, open.”
“MOMMY, OPEN!”
“OK, OK Georgie, I’ll open. What’s the magic word?”
“SHIT!”
“No Georgie, that’s not the magic word say ‘PLEASE’, please is the magic word, say ‘please’.”
“Please.”
“Good girl, that’s right – please. What’s the magic word Georgie?”
“SHIT!”
Sigh – MommyKnows –> I really have to stop swearing!
* * * * * * * * *
It’s Day 3 and we’re giving away a Manhattan Toy – Zoolio Rainforest Edition.
Day 2 is closed for comments and we have a winner!
This fun travel case holds six activity panels in multiple fabrics. Toddlers develop cognitive learning and motor skills by zipping, buttoning, snapping and more. Rattles, crinkle paper and hidden graphics enhance sensory stimulation.
If you’d like this great toy – just leave a comment, BUT today I want your tips for helping me cure my swearing problem AND the reason why you’d like the Zoolio!
I’m giving away a FREE product every day until the end of May. Read more here: Contest Details
24 Comments
Janice · May 9, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Hmm…we’re working on not swearing around here. I try to make up silly things like “I wish I could just sit on MY arf-arf for one whole day”, or “you would believe the foo-foo face who cut me off”. It’s so hard when I’m driving, though. I just try to say nothing. And keep both hands on the wheel. Don’t want to add to baby’s signing vocabulary.
Bubba would love Zoolio. He’s into zippers and crinkly paper. Thanks!
Aunt Amy · May 9, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Besides this being damn cute, I’ll just tell you that my own two daughter’s are constantly telling me, “Dammit isn’t a nice word Mommy, why don’t you say ‘oh, no instead?'”
Yan · May 10, 2007 at 12:44 am
lol :)
I think the best way to deal with it is to ignore it, say nothing, which you are doing.
I think both my kids would love to try Zoolio !
Karrie · May 10, 2007 at 5:27 am
I exclaim a lot of silly cursing-ish things to avoid having a trash-mouth (almost) 3 year old. Lots of ‘Oh holy moly”, ‘What the… mutha F!!’ and ‘Oh crumb!’. I mostly sound like I am from the 50’s I suppose.
Violet would love the zoolio toy for her birthday.. May 25th! AND we live in Canada… and our cat recently died from the giant pet food poisoning. Is that wrong to say…to win a toy?!
nikkapotamus · May 10, 2007 at 7:26 am
I have to agree with the others here. We use silly words instead. “watermelon” is my personal favorite. I’ve also used, “HOLY CATS!”, “matza!”, “oh my flying stars!”
Of course, I’m also a teacher, so I have a lot of practice.
You should also watch “Meet the Fockers” because it has such a great funny scene about just this problem.
Deborah · May 10, 2007 at 7:49 am
I think I say “OH NO” for everything now and I make up silly words too! My son (3 years old) loves to just say Macaroni and he uses the word “Baby” as a bad word. So if he’s upset he’ll call me a Baby or a piece of Macaroni! I have a 2 month old too…but he calls his little sister his sweetie pie “baby” :)
Katie · May 10, 2007 at 8:07 am
I think the best thing to do is to try and use silly words. It’s 6:59 and I can’t think of anything more creative at the moment, sorry.
We should win because I have a 22 month old just like you do.
Naomi · May 10, 2007 at 8:46 am
Our bad word that came back to haunt us was “God damn it!” which sounds absolutely horrible coming out of a toddler, especially living in the bible belt. (I almost wish I was more prone to cursing like a sailor!) We had several talks about how mommy and daddy shouldn’t say that and really ought to be saying “darn it!” so now Roo likes to correct us if we slip up. You could also pick something totally innocuous or try to use baby pottymouth words. Your daughter would probably find it hilarious if you shouted “poop!” in traffic, for example…
Anyway, I’m expecting a boy in late July and I think he would love the Zoolio. It wouldn’t be a hand-me-down from his big sister!
Gina · May 10, 2007 at 9:06 am
My one year old is learning words faster than we can forget to use the bad ones. I hit my head putting her down the other day and said “crap!” without thinking. She said “crap…crap…crap” for the next five minutes straight. Luckily she didn’t remember it when she woke up!
Rachel · May 10, 2007 at 9:14 am
Perhaps you don’t need advice from me: my 3yo daughter can frequently be heard saying things such as “I can’t get these damned things on” (referring to her shoes) or “I can’t get this damned thing to work!” (referring to babydoll’s stroller) Pathetically, at our house we almost find that amusing. Totally MORTIFYING, however, was when my 7yo (then only 3) dropped the F-bomb at a birthday party.
Woe is me with my potty mouth. I’ll be taking your readers’ advice…
Heidi · May 10, 2007 at 9:16 am
I have a horrible potty mouth and trying to tame it since becoming a mom has been excruciating. Now, I try to act like my grandmother is always in the room. And when my older son (almost 3) repeats something questionable that I’ve said, I immediately repeat the idea back to him replacing the “bad” word.
Example:
Max’s 19-month-old brother was running around naked before a bath. He had an accident.
Max yelled “Samuel PISSED on the floor. He PISSED on the floor!!”
I replied “Sam had a little accident and we’re going to clean it up. He had an accident.”
Fingers crossed it’ll work.
Daisymom · May 10, 2007 at 9:33 am
Goodness – I have no idea how to fix that. I’m working on practicing better language now for when my little girl starts talking. Currently you can hear me say “Phooey” and “Blast” and my favorite of the moment, “Sugar Pops!”
Good luck!!
(Oh, and I want to win that really cool toy!!!)
Elizabeth · May 10, 2007 at 9:46 am
I have been soooooo good about not swearing around my almost four year old until the other day… I let “god damn” slip during a frustrating early early morning interaction with him and he absolutly HOWLED he thought it was so funny, he was like, “what’s god damn??” and giggled his head off till I started laughing too. Whoopsie…
Katie · May 10, 2007 at 11:25 am
Hi,
My 21 1/2 month old doesn’t talk hardly at all, so if he swore I’d be pretty impressed that he said an actual word!!
Take care.
hmama · May 10, 2007 at 11:40 am
This past week I was driving and someone stopped right in front of me with no warning. I yelled, ‘What the hell?’ My 2 1/4 year old simply said, ‘That’s a bad word mama.’ I still don’t know where he picked that up, as my usual swears are shit and damm. I just agreed, that wasn’t a nice thing for mama to say and on with it. That is what I do. Aplogize if I swear or such things. Making up silly words unfortunatly didn’t work for me. If an accident happens, on either of our ends, we talk about it briefly and move on to the next thing.
On a more fun note–we would all love to have the Zoolio toy as new things are so much fun; my 8 month old daugher included!
Jen the Mom · May 10, 2007 at 11:42 am
My sister-in-law has a Temper Jar that she puts 50 cents in every time she raises her voice to the kids, when they don’t deserve it. Maybe a swearing jar?
Just a thought.
What a cute toy!
Aimee · May 10, 2007 at 11:52 am
I never did stop swearing, I just made the rule that those are grown-up words and only grown-ups can use them. I told my daughter that when she’s 18 she can say whatever she wants (although I doubt she’ll hold out that long.) She’s 10 now, and so far it’s worked well.
Her dad (my ex) doesn’t let anyone swear around the kids, and his second child who is 4 has become quite the potty mouth. They hear it, whether you are the one saying it or not, so I just deal with it rather than try to censor it.
Christine L. · May 10, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Hilarious story!!!! I love it! My tip, make up words that are not swears and start to use them when you would normally use a swear. That’s how I stopped. :)
Elise Vajsabel · May 10, 2007 at 2:42 pm
My daughter was 2 1/2 when she picked up her first swear word from teen age girls at the park (F*!ck). What made it worse is that this was one of the few words she decided to pronounce very clearly. I explained that it wasn’t a nice word to say and then ignored it. It only lasted a few days.
Both my daughters would love the new toy!
Amy · May 10, 2007 at 2:48 pm
My strategies are hit or miss but generally seem to be working. Sometimes I repeat what I say after cussing but leave out the cuss word entirely or change it to something homophonic— Like “What the F*** is that?” is repeated in a louder, more clearly enunciated voice with, “What TRUCK is that?” or “What is THAT?” (change emphasis.) I’m constantly repeating and explaining things so the repetition/deletion doesn’t get a lot of notice. Another thing which has helped me is kind of the Thesaurus approach: expressing myself more precisely rather than use the generic expletive. Rather than say “Oh that F***ing dog” it’s kind of satisfying to say “That neurotic deranged maniac.” (which is what I really meant anyway.) Then there’s the often mentioned substitution method– pick a phrase and stick with it. “Whoo-ha” is my favorite, but I like the suggestion of picking a least favorite politician.
I’d love to see how my kids interact with this toy– esp. one that seems like it will appeal to both my 2-year-old and 4-month-old. With 6 panels, I can already see myself explaining *sharing* (again) but know the younger one will be handed the packaging while the older one tries to hide the toy in her pants and explain to me that she “needs” it. I’d also love to see how it’s constructed. (I want to make some custom interactive toys for friends as b-day/baby gifts)…
Angela · May 10, 2007 at 4:31 pm
How about learning to swear in a different language? (i.e. “oh mon dieu!”) Maybe it’s not much better but it’ll make you sound like you know French. Just kidding :) The best way, I think, is to try controlling yourself not to swear at all.
By the way, I actually want to buy this toy (if only shipping is free). I came across this website because I was searching for a store that sells zoolio. I don’t think I can buy enough to make it to the $75 free shipping amount… So, I guess I’ll keep searching for this toy to see if other websites sell it with free shipping.
Zelatrice · May 10, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Hello! I like colors and variaties. It’s funny!
Desi · May 10, 2007 at 5:11 pm
On more than one occasion, my 3 year old dd has very loudly, albeit politely, asked me at the store, “Mom, what the hell are we doing here?” The first time, I was so shocked, I asked her what she said and she said it again, even louder and with perfect enunciation. Fortunately, the only person within earshot was a nice gentleman who kind of chuckled to himself. Oh my, the things children say. I coud go on and on (like, is it inappropriate that my children know the words to several Johnny Cash songs and they laugh at the parts like “I had a beer for breakfast”?)
So, unfortunately, I have no advice to cure your swearing. Just teach them that some words are for grown-ups only. Do as I say, not as I do :-)
And the toy, we would love it. My youngest just turned one and it would be perfect for her. She is one busy little kid and anything that could occupy her in a safe, clean manner would be most welcome :-)
glittersmama · May 10, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Best cure for swearing: wear a rubber band around your wrist, and every time you swear you have to snap yourself. Not really hard–just enough to make it sting. I’m not a masochist or anything, but it helped me. If you’ve got lots of change, you could start a swear jar: 25 cents a word.
The zoolio looks like the perfect thing to occupy my little girl when she needs to stay on my lap for a while–long plane rides. Ah!
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