Foul Mouthed Females...

Hi Girls!

Just a brief snack as "food for thought" tonight - picnicing in my local park today I was watching a group of three girls who were just hanging out together, riding their bikes, throwing a ball, reading magazines...the usual. They looked about 12 or 13 years old and they seemed to be good friends - nice people. However, at one point while the youngest in the group was riding her bike down the hill, she shouted over her shoulder to the girl behind her (in response to something that was said, and I didn't hear): "F**k you! I can't brake on this bl**dy bike!"

I have to say, her language choices shocked me and I was surprised to note that my perception of her immediately changed. As I considered this pint sized potty-mouth, I couldn't help but wonder:

Was my grandma right when she said that "crass words make cheap women"?

Or is swearing simply the 'new black': a must have vocab accessory for the socially savvy teen girl?

I must confess to being less than lilly-white when it comes to sweet speech - I've been known to drop the occasional 'F-bomb', especially to punctuate a cooking disaster or other practical mishap, or to express a vote of no confidence in my fellow drivers on the way to work. However, my recent observation of the frequency with which my students and other young people roll out the rough talk is causing some concern:
is it cool to cuss? Stylish to swear? Is a foul mouth in fashion? Or have we just become blasé?

How do you feel when you hear a foul-mouthed female?

Should young women swear?

Be You. True.

KatieK

Sex! (That'll get their attention...)

Thought I'd start with a topic to turn your cogs, folks. Let's see if we can start a discussion:
Watching tv with HHH (Hyper Hot Hubby) last night, there was a scene where a mum tried to give her 14 year old daughter condoms to take with her when she went to meet a boy.

To say the girl's reaction was awkward is a gross understatement. It made us both cringe, and when the show was over, HHH turned to me and asked: "Would you give condoms to your 14 year old kid?" So before I answer, I wanted to ask you: "As a 14 year old, would you have wanted your mum to give you condoms?"

Or, to be even more specific, do you think parents should talk to their teens about sex?
If so, what should they say?
What do you wish yours had said to you?
Or would you rather they said nothing?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Be you. True.

What's all this, then?

Welcome to my first ever blog.
Why am I here?
Well, as stated in my intro, my goal is to provide an honest forum for young people - people like the students I teach every day.

I want a lot of things from this blog.

I want it to encourage individualism: strength, choice and responsibility.
I want it to encourage young people to live their best life, and to share their gifts with others.
I want my readers to be inspired to use their unique brilliance to shape their world.

For seven years as a high school teacher, I've been encouraging my students to try two steps:

#1 Become the BEST YOU
#2 Get out and DO

I want this blog to be both a trigger and support for that process.
I want it to be a sanctuary for encouragement and a repository of conventional (and unconventional) wisdom.

I want my readers to get involved - to ask questions, leave comments and argue with me; to share ideas and start discussions.
I want to inspire them to engage their brains.

In return, I promise the following:
I will always be honest and truthful.
I will share what I know, and admit when I don't.

I'll be drawing on my experience as a teacher, a woman, a wife, a traveller, an ex-teen and a psych student.
Everything I write will be my own opinion. I reserve the right to piss people off, and you can follow my advice at your own risk or write it off at your peril. I take no responsibility for the consequences. It's your life. Are you in? If you're reading, leave me a comment and let me know. Let's start a conversation.

Welcome again.

Be you. True.