F-U-C-K

While walking the greenway near our house yesterday, Madison noticed spray paint writing on the ground from time to time. At one point I noticed one that I tried my best to distract her attention from, but her curiosity drew her to the writing. She said with some disgust and disappointment in her voice "Mom, why would someone write their name on the walkway?" To which I replied (ignoring the fact that it wasn't a name) "honey, I don't know why someone would do that." Thinking we got through this word discovery unscathed I continued walking. As Madison walked away from the writing she then announces what she read. . . "It says FUCK mom." Our conversation continued as follows:

"Honey, I know what it says. That's a very bad word that you should never say."
"I didn't know. I've never even heard that word before."
"I know, but it's a bad word, so now that you know, be sure to not use that word anymore."
"What's it mean?"
"It means many things, but it's mostly used when someone is very upset."
"Why would they use that word?"
"Because they don't have any better words to use."
"Oh"

Who would have guessed that my child would learn the f-bomb while taking a nature walk with me? Not from public school, or the neighborhood kid all parents avoid, or from television, movies, or media, or the internet, etc. I suppose (considering we all learn it at some point or another) I'm glad she learned it with me instead of through those other outlets.

Aside from the lesson for that day, the walk was really quite nice. We saw a baby snake, a cardinal, a turtle and a few ducks too. The river was muddy from days of rain, but the air was cool and the sun was shining and the trees were bright green. It was a beautiful day to learn the f-word :)