When Enough is Effing Enough!!

     Let me start by saying this... I am not offended easily... if ever. Having kids has changed my outlook on quite a few things though.  Having a kid who parrots back almost everything that I say to him has made me really think twice about my "lack of filter-itius" and try a lot harder to curb that sarcastic outburst that normally just fall out without control.  It's pretty much one of my worst nightmares that Mason will say something in public that he has heard somewhere and I am the one to catch the heat because my kid has a potty mouth.  I am sure I could brush it off, but I'd be embarrassed none the less and I like to avoid that if possible.  He is 3 years and 8 months old.  Thank you Sweet Baby Jesus, it hasn't happen yet... despite the best efforts of a guy on Sunday.  I'll set the stage...
     We don't go out to eat at restaurants very often... when we do, it has usually been eat quickly because once one of the boys is done, we are all done.  We did have a little window when Cooper was really little and Mason started to be fun to take out... but then Cooper got not fun to take and that window was slammed shut.  We don't go enough for them to be used to it... it is what it is. 
     We had to drop the hubs at the airport right at breakfast time and I thought a trip out to eat would be fun and take their minds off of Dad being gone.  I decided on IHOP... Mason asks for pancakes almost every morning so I thought it would be nice for him.
     We walked into the restaurant and I give the host my request of 3 in a booth... away from people if possible.  It was Sunday morning at IHOP... away from people was not going to happen.  We followed her around the corner and to the back to a booth and my eyes couldn't believe what they saw... 6 grown men crowded around a table and the biggest one of the bunch wearing- only in the South-overalls with no shirt.  I laughed to myself and once seated, nonchalantly tried to document this sight to share at a later date.  I know, I know, not nice, but seriously, how often do you see this?? Ok, so living in southern Mississippi, I may have seen it a couple times before, but it never gets old!!  It doesn't get much more country than that.  I am not a great "picture on the sly" and to be honest, they made me a little nervous so that should explain the messed up pic, but you can see... overalls, no shirt... oh yeah, and tattoos!! Maybe he thought that was shirt enough? Who knows.

 

     After I was done secretly gawking and had ordered our food and gotten us all settled to wait for our stuff, I couldn't help but overhear one of the guys at the table.  He was cussing. Not just the random four letter accidental slip.  He was cussing like it was his job.  M F'er, B, GD, F, F, S, F, F, B, GD... use your imagination...  I was not happy.  I'll admit, sometimes there is a need for a well placed F bomb.  It almost feels good to just let it drop... especially when you really try and monitor what comes out of your mouth for fear of hearing it spit back at you.  I'll even say that sometimes it is needed to get your point across.  That guy happens to be the one in the green shirt with the hat on at the table... a little insight to his table manners if you ask me (while I sit on my high horse)... or Emily Post.
     Anyway, this goes on for a few minutes and as I sit there, I see Mason's little ears perk up at hearing other voices... and am just waiting for him to ask me to get him some more F'ing OJ.  I am sitting at the table wincing at every drop of profanity, and even locked eyes with their waitress as she gave me the "I'm really sorry" look.  I knew it wasn't in my head. I got more and more aggravated.  This was not a bar.  This was not at an odd, non-family time... it was SUNDAY... 8:30 in the morning... at IHOP for Pete's sake!  I had finally had enough.  I catch the cussing machine's eye and say the following, "Hey, I'm sorry, but can you please try not to curse so much, or so loudly, I'm here with my kids"  I was cut off before I could finish with a "We are fixin to leave".  I don't know why I was surprised, but I thought that if someone had to ask you to modify your language because it was offensive to CHILDREN that some sort of apology would be included in your response.  I would even have been happy with a "My bad."  No.  We are fixin to leave.  Really???  He then turned to his buddies and said "Lets get outta here"  one of the others said "Why, what happened?" Mr Manners told his friends, "Yeah, that girl over there just said something to me"... like I was the big jerk... he probably pointed at me too.  I wasn't looking to confirm, but I seriously wouldn't have put it past him.
I couldn't believe it.  They talked for a few more minutes and Mr. Manners cussed a few more times, each word now earning him a look of "are you kidding me??" from me... the big jerk who just had to speak up.
     Was I out of line?  At what point are you allowed to say something to someone about their language.  I'm no ninny, I have spent the entire duration of my adulthood being surrounded by military guys... I've heard it all.  But for me to hear it is one thing... my kids... totally different.  Where do you draw the line.  Does someone in a crowded restaurant with tables close together expect that their table conversation is private to them and they get to say whatever they want not matter how offensive to other customers?  Maybe my delivery was wrong, should I have asked the waiter to say something on my behalf?  I am just blown away at how this all went down.  How did I end up the bad guy?  F that... I know I was F'ing right.