Holy Mother’s %#@$!

You know how when you are trying to get pregnant, suddenly you see pregnant women everywhere? Well, it’s the same way when you write a breastfeeding blog — suddenly you see references to breastfeeding all over the place. Today I read an interesting MSNBC.com article entitled “Recession F-Bombs: Why Cursing Feels Great” by Diane Mapes. Not exactly a place you’d expect to see a reference to breastfeeding, right? But Mapes spoke to Thomas Jay, professor of psychology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, who said:

“Swear words are almost always about sex or religion in every language,” says Jay. “It depends on what the [cultural] taboos are. In countries where religion is more powerful, phrases such as “Sacred mother” or “Holy mother’s milk” are typical.”

Photo by Julia F.

Now “Holy mother’s milk” was not what I said this morning when I accidentally sat on my peanut butter toast. I’m not proud of myself, but I said, “Oh crap!” Unfortunately, my four-year-old heard — sort of — and asked, “Mama, why did you say ‘Oh tramp?’” Feeling no need to correct her, I explained that I had sat on my peanut butter toast and had gotten peanut butter on my new blue jeans. “Oh,” she nodded wisely. “That is so trampy.” Yes, my dear, I suppose it is.