Now, we are all parents here and the majority of you reading this article have probably been parenting for some time. I want to go over today what do when you hear your children cursing you under their breath… usually followed by you giving them a consequence for a wrongdoing that your kids didn’t like. I want to write about this because I get letters about this everyday from several frustrated parents.

Consider this scenario. A child is reprimanded and given a consequence and the child then mutters something and walks away. While the curse words used aren’t said out loudly, they’re loud enough for you to understand them.

When you are giving your child a consequence, and he uses curse words in return, do not address this issue immediately, as you want to avoid being sucked into an argument that can be avoided and doesn’t relate to what you are discussing at the moment. You need to retain your focus on the issue at hand.

Sometime later, you approach your kid and discuss the instance where he used swear words. Then, you tell them that using curse words isn’t right and this too comes with a consequence.

Even if the curse words are only being mumbled, it still remains the same. You hear your child cursing and your child is accountable for every thing he says.

If your child retorts and says that he did not say anything, you need to tell them what you heard. If they continue to insist that they did not say what you heard, you need to tell them to be loud enough the next time and thereby avoid getting the resultant consequence.

Simply put, they need to be loud enough for you to be able to hear what they’re saying.

In doing so, you set a precedent for what will happen if your child mumbles curses at you. He then cannot keep saying that he did not say anything. The consequence comes as a result of what you heard. Stick to this and give a consequence on every instance of curse words being used.

While parenting, you should keep in mind that cursing in any way is not permissible and needs to be addressed. This is something that your child shouldn’t be doing. It comes with a consequence. Your child needs to be held accountable for every time a curse word is mumbled, spoken or shouted.

However, there is a difference between talking, shouting back, regular muttering, and cursing.

Children are known to retaliate, especially when they’re handed a consequence. You gave the something they don’t like (the consequence). You can expect them to walk away angry, upset, mumbling that it isn’t fair or even yelling that it isn’t fair. This is acceptable. They will probably stomp away expressing themselves.

Again, this is ok, and it is normal for children to do this.

However, it is not ok to have your children cursing… especially at you.

The problem begins when your child starts abusing you verbally under his breath (or loud and clear). This needs to be addressed… but not immediately.

The language used in and around your house should be respectful, and using curse words is not the way to go about it.

Again, a muttering child is ok, but it’s not ok when these mutterings include foul language and curse words. A consequence should accompany this, but only after things have calmed down.

Once things become calm, this issue needs to be dealt with separately from what was being discussed originally. Parenting can be tough, but it is really rewarding if you have the proper parenting tools to handle common occurrences such as this. Just follow the example I gave above and you will be on your way.