EP 232: Swearing- What it Means and How to Respond

When kids swear, it often feels jarring, disrespectful, or even threatening. But swearing isn’t about defiance or being a bad kid- it’s a clue about the state of your child’s nervous system. Swearing might mean your child is overwhelmed, dysregulated, or struggling to find their real voice. Of course, understanding the behavior isn’t excusing the behavior. BUT! When we understand where the behavior is coming from, we get much better and more effective ideas about how to address it. In this episode, we explore what’s really going on beneath the swearing, why it might be possible to consider that swearing isn’t inherently bad, and how parents can respond in ways that build regulation, connection, and felt safety. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your own reaction to swearing is the first thing to explore, and how to regulate through it What swearing might really be communicating, including pain, overwhelm, or a need for control How to scaffold emotional expression so your child learns to use their real voice instead of cussing Resources mentioned in this podcast: Regulated Does Not Equal Calm {EP 31} Boundaries with Connection Part 1 of 3 {EP 111} Boundaries With Verbal Aggression with Juliane Taylor Shore {EP 115} How I've Strengthened my Psychological Boundaries {EP 117} Match The Energy, NOT the Dysregulation {EP 155} Read the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/swearing I would love to have you join me this March in Durango, CO for a 3-day, retreat style workshop: Presence in Practice: An experiential workshop into the neurobiology of how change happens. All details and registration ------> https://RobynGobbel.com/Durango Register by December 19 for $75 off! Get access to over 25+ free resources in our brand, new Free Resource Hub! RobynGobbel.com/FreeResourceHub ::: Grab a copy of USA Today Best Selling book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/book Join us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClub Sign up on the waiting list for the 2027 Cohorts of the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Immersion Program for Professionals robyngobbel.com/Immersion Follow Me On: Facebook Instagram Over on my website you can find: Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE) eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE) LOTS & LOTS of FREE Resources Ongoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The Club Year-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)