My ten year old rode with his big sister to Wal-Mart yesterday as they needed to pick up some more school supplies with my debit card. We live a fairly sheltered existence, rural and wholesome, so JoJo was shocked and outraged when he heard a Grandmother cuss at the store.

“Grandmothers shouldn’t cuss, right Mama? I heard her say d-a-m-m-i-d.”

I’m wondering if I should address the spelling or the real issue.

“Yes, darling, some people cuss, but your grandma claims they must have a very limited vocabulary if they have to resort to a couple of over-used cuss words.”

My explanation was about 25 words too long for his ADHD mind; he was picking his toenails in boredom by then. He even bites them. I almost puked the first time I witnessed that sight.

“Should I have said something to her,” he asked innocently.

“Heck no, you ever heard of road rage? You want buggy rage in the school supply aisle?

He just wouldn’t let it go, arguing with me that it was his civil duty to explain that the old lady blatantly offended children with that word, what if a young baby heard it, and so on and so on.

I finally settled the matter with a platitude I’d once heard that makes sense, “Honey, (I call everyone darling and honey) don’t lock horns, lock hands.”

Like fighting or arguing ever got anyone anywhere?

What would be the point? I’m hot-headed, but I’ve learned with age that most stuff doesn’t matter. All of my kids have come to me from families with little, if any, coping skills. I have huge kids with the minds of toddlers and I have to teach manners, reasoning, good behavior and academics. If I can impart to them such simple theories as live simply, give much and expect little, will they be happy in life? I am quite happy and I want that for them also.

I could see JoJo’s mental wheels turning again this morning. He’s never heard a teacher, or I, ever cuss and now his worldview of adult women was a little tilted this morning. He was still shaking his head in amazement, telling his best buddy brother, Allen, all about it.

And me? I’m just happy that this is the entire trauma he’s faced in years. This is part of life and growing up, he’s safe and happy here at home, and he’s learning how to cope and to deal with others while still under my wing.