Becky Kopitzke

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When Words Go Down the Toilet

March 17, 2014

Butt. Toot. Burp. Poop.

Lately my kids are fascinated with all words potty mouth. And it’s driving me nuts.

When Words Go Down the Toilet

“My bootay! My bootay!” My four-year-old danced through the kitchen in a bent squatting stance, slapping her bottom like she was riding a horse. I swear I never taught her to do this.

“I’ve told you—that is not appropriate. No more bootay dancing.” I pursed my lips and gave her a don’t-you-test-my-patience glare.

“Sorry, Mommy! I love you—poopy!” Peals of laughter rolled from her gut. Which, incidentally, is another hilarious word in our house. Guts.

My children manage to insert bodily functions into ordinary conversation whenever possible.

“Excuse me, I tooted! Did you hear me? I tooted. Excuse me.”

“Today at recess my snow pants got wet and my BUTT was soaked and I had to change my UNDIES because my BUMPER was soooo wet! Can you believe that?”

“Mom, this is so funny, listen to this song—Twinkle twinkle little butt, how I wonder what you toot! Hahahahahahahaha!”

Heaven help me.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen,” (Ephesians 4:29).

I may not say “poop” anymore, but I sure have my own variety of unwholesome talk. Like last night when I snapped at my husband. Or this morning when I barked at my kids. Or anytime I cave to the temptation to complain, criticize, nag, or vent to someone who is not going to hold me accountable.

Do you do it, too?

The truth is none of us outgrows our potty mouth. We just label it something more socially acceptable, like I’m outspoken, or I’m brutally honest, I’m grumpy or tired. But does anybody really benefit from hearing our unwholesome words? Do they build others up or more likely tear them down?

Thankfully, God the Father has just the right kind of soap for scrubbing out our tongues. It’s called his grace.

“But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin,” (1 John 1:7, NLT).

If we have Jesus, then we have what it takes to curb the bad language habit—however it manifests in your life. Just keep digging into the Good Book, praying, and hanging out with people who can call you on your poop stuff.

Kind of like I do for my kids.

“Mommy, I burped!” My daughter giggled.

“What do you say?” I prompted her manners.

“Uh . . . It tasted like bananas!”

Yep. We have some work to do.

Blessings,
Becky

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Filed Under: Grace and Mercy, Growing Pains, Parenting, Personal Growth & Faith, Raising Young Kids, School Years, Taming the Tongue, Things I Learn from My Kids Tagged With: christian parenting, devotion, devotional, discipline, family, grace, motherhood, nurturing kids, parenting, potty talk, sassy kids, taming the tongue

Comments

  1. Kendra Burrows says

    March 17, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    You are right on, Becky! Our unwholesome talk looks different, but to God’s ears it’s likely even worse. Thanks for the reminder.

    • Becky says

      March 18, 2014 at 9:43 am

      I often think of how my kids at least have the excuse of being kids. They’re still learning much of what I ought to know by now. I guess I’m still learning, too. 🙂 Thanks for reading, Kendra!

  2. Adrie @ A Little Wife's Happy Life says

    March 18, 2014 at 9:28 pm

    After a very tough day at work, and coming home and complaining to my husband (and to anyone else who would listen, really)… I needed this.

    • Becky says

      March 18, 2014 at 10:04 pm

      You and me both, Adrie. 🙂

  3. Helena says

    March 19, 2014 at 7:09 am

    Hahaha, the bootay dance- that must instinctive, my daughter has been doing it since she was a year old. Completely unprompted.

    • Becky says

      March 19, 2014 at 9:23 am

      Oh God bless you, Helena. It’s so good to know I’m not alone. Where in the world do they come up with this stuff?

  4. Tricia says

    March 19, 2014 at 7:43 am

    Such an important parallel you draw here. We all have a different version of the potty mouth, it just comes out in different ways. And only mindfulness and attention will help us use our words for good.

    • Becky says

      March 19, 2014 at 9:23 am

      Using our words for good – that’s the goal, Tricia! Great to see you here!

  5. Beth says

    March 19, 2014 at 9:09 am

    How funny! I always thought that kind of family banter was only found in homes mostly populated by males. You’ve just disproved my hypothesis, Becky! And aren’t you glad to gain that dubious honor?! ha! Yes, I’m the same way you are. When my sons use not just the words but the “gaseous expulsions” to add a bit of humor to the moment, I just know that Emily Post is turning over in her grave–tootless, I might add! Thanks for this funny read and important reminder about to let Christ cleanse our conversations. 🙂

    • Becky says

      March 19, 2014 at 9:22 am

      Yes, such an honor to be known as the girl-momma with potty mouth daughters, Beth! Ugh! I’m somewhat relieved to tell you that through conversations with other moms of daughters, it appears to be a universal problem among both genders. And apparently they grow out of it. Please tell me that’s true! 🙂

  6. Shell says

    March 19, 2014 at 9:49 am

    My boys are highly amused by fart/poop/etc talk. My youngest called our oldest “Poopy Princess” last night. I have work to do, too.

  7. Leighann says

    March 19, 2014 at 12:05 pm

    my daughter is four and in this stage right now. I tell her that if she’s going to use “bathroom words” she has to go to the bathroom and use them.

  8. bluecottonmemory says

    March 19, 2014 at 3:27 pm

    At some point in our children’s lives they start sprouting decorum – and their hiliarity at bodily function jokes rarely overflow that barrier. I’ve been living in those jokes for 27 years – my youngest is 13 – I still have a few more years to go:)

    And, yes, I fall up short, too. It seems adults leave behind childish amusement at communication – like a toy sword – and replace it with a sharper, more real communication sword. Parenting and self-editing require vigilance!

    I think your daughter is filled with much joy!!

  9. Jen says

    March 23, 2014 at 7:13 am

    I remember when my youngest son was learning to talk, and the very first song he ever sang, at the tender age of nineteen months, was a cover of his then 8-year-old brother’s “I like to poop poop poop nananananananeh”…I hear you. On both levels. This week I had a situation between my son and another child at our bus stop erupt into a full storm of accusation against him from that child’s mother…she happened to confront me on the worst day I have had in about six years and I did not respond in a Christ-like manner at all. I went from not standing up for my son enough to psycholady…to top it off, the bus lets the kids off in a church parking lot next door to the youth minister for our church who is also my boss…and I dropped a word worse than poop. I went home and fell apart, angry at the injustice for my son, and also at myself knowing I had destroyed some credibility for both of us in not exercising the self control that God expected of me. I also knew I had treated this other mom badly, and that as a mature Christian, God expects better from me than a childish ‘But she started it!’ It is such a relief to know, that aside from apologizing to the other mom, which I did, that God has heard my apology for sinning against a child of His, and therefore Him as well, and he has let it go and will equip me to handle the situation better from here on out. Thanks for this post, Becky. You make me laugh every time, and you make me feel a little less lonely on this journey. You Rock!

    • Becky says

      March 23, 2014 at 9:29 pm

      Jen, I’m feeling your pain. We’ve all had less than shining moments – you are definitely not alone. I’d say you handled the follow up very well. Many women might not have humbled themselves to apologize. That is Christ in action. Thank you for joining me on the mom adventure!

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Meet Becky.

If you love your kids but you sometimes forget to feed them lunch, if you're crazy about your husband but some days you want to set his hunting gear on fire, and if you adore Jesus with your whole heart yet you mess up time and time again, then you and I are friends already.

We need each other. I'm so glad you're here.

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