<p>Here’s the problem: My parents, especially my step father curse some to many times and sometimes at me, and sometimes I get offended. I wanna curse back at them so badly but I’m afraid that I’ll get into trouble or something! I also wanna curse back at them if I don’t want to do a hard task such as mowing the lawn if they force me to.</p>
<p>If I don’t have the guts to curse back at them, should I ask them to stop using bad words at me or maybe in general when I’m around? The only bad words I use when I get mad are like “hell” and “damn” or “sucks”.</p>
<p>What should I do? I’m afraid of asking them about cursing!</p>
<p>I don’t think you should stoop to cursing too. You may find it a hard habit to break, and I think it looks bad, unless you can only do it with similarly foul mouthed peers. It’s nice that you haven’t picked up the habit. I think it is fine to ask them to avoid cursing around you; why would be afraid of that?</p>
<p>Mowing grass doesn’t seem unreasonable, unless its like a half acre without a ride on mower.</p>
<p>You cannot control their behavior but you can control your own behavior. You are not responsible for their behavior, you are responsible for your behavior. Treat them the way you would have them treat you even if they don’t treat you that way.</p>
<p>During a calm time, you could politely ask your parents not to curse at you. However, whatever they choose to do, you should not sink to their level. Two wrongs don’t make a right.</p>
<p>I have never even yelled at my children, much less cursed at them. That does not mean I don’t give them a respectful piece of my mind when appropriate, however. I’m sorry you have to endure that, but perhaps that’s how your own parents were parented and it just seems normal to them.</p>
<p>Don’t treat them in kind, and do ask them respectfully to consider stopping this behavior. This conversation will go better if it takes place during a calm, happy time rather than during the heat of an argument. Tell them how it makes you feel-but make it clear that you understand this doesn’t mean you are saying they should never correct your behavior if appropriate.</p>
<p>And don’t pout when they ask you do mow the lawn. As the member of a family, you need to chip in and help your parents with tasks around the house. That is only fair.</p>
<p>Some schools take foul language very seriously – even to the point of punishing it by suspension.</p>
<p>I wonder whether your parents would agree with you that the whole family could make an effort to stop using rude words. You could tell them that you are concerned about getting into the habit of using swear words and accidentally using them in school and getting punished.</p>
<p>As for the chores, you should be doing your share. After all, you’re part of the family. If there’s a particular task you hate (mowing the lawn), you could suggest the possibility of taking on a different chore (doing the dishes) instead, but your parents might say no. They may have a specific reason for wanting you to do a particular chore (for example, if you’re home during daylight hours more than they are, it may make more sense for you to mow the lawn).</p>
<p>I talked with my stepfather yesterday about the situation and he said that he won’t stop using those words. If I remember correctly, he says that I shouldn’t be “a prince” or some weak individual who’s sensitive to bad words. He says that it’s the real world that people curse all the time, but I think he says that I shouldn’t say those words.</p>
<p>If your stepfather thinks that not cursing is effeminate, you’re not likely to be able to change his mind.</p>
<p>It may be best to simply accept that speaking this way is a habit for him and to choose to speak in the way you prefer. You don’t have to follow his example if you don’t like it.</p>
I’m sorry you have to endure that, but perhaps that’s how your own parents were parented and it just seems normal to them.</p>