There are three phrases/words not allowed in my house. 1. Jesus Christ (unless actually referring to Jesus), 2. shut up, and 3. proverbial.

It actually pains me to hear people say “Jesus Christ!” so casually. Do they understand the magnitude of their disrespect? Do they care? Our kids are taught to understand. And, if I ever heard them say it they would, at the very least, get a hot earful from their mother! Jesus came here, to our lowly planet, in the most vulnerable form, to teach us nimrods that we are loved and cherished by God Almighty Himself. Jesus dedicated his entire life to lead us to the Kingdom of Heaven, knowing how it all would go. Don’t use his name for anything but gratitude and reverence.

We also do not say “shut up” in our house. It’s one of the rudest things to say to a person, in my opinion. Everyone deserves a chance to be heard. Only the stubborn and ignorant decide not to fully understand all sides of a situation. We do not tell others that their voice doesn’t count.

The word “proverbial” is like nails on a blackboard to me. It’s pompous and unnecessary. It might be a bit extreme to shortlist it as one of three banned words, but there it is, because I’m mom and I can. It’s one of very few indulgences I allow myself.