There we were, enjoying a bit of rare warmth and sunshine at Willows Farm, with Ilan playing with a couple of his close friends, when that defining moment in your child's life happens...he uses a word which sounds awfully like a swear word! Having thought I'd heard this word used a couple of weeks ago by Ilan, I put it down to the fact that four-year-olds often make up words as part of rhyming games...and I think I was correct on that occasion. However, today was a totally different ball game, and there was no aural deception going on!!

Hearing what I thought was the word "f*cker" used by Ilan, I hauled him over to me, questioning what he just said. "F*cker", he answered, to which I had to seriously hold myself together from laughing hysterically! "And where did you hear this word?" I asked sternly! "From Leo", the amused Ilan responded, referring to one of his class-mates at nursery...yes NURSERY!! At least he didn't blame me!!

Being somewhat caught off gaurd - hoping this conversation would be delayed for a few more years - I explained to Ilan that's it's not a nice word to use, and threatened a two-pronged punishment, involving toys being taken away and TV being out of bounds on a daily basis for each utterance of the word!

In the ensuing four hours before bed, I'm pleased to say that 'the f word' was not repeated. Long may the clean language continue!!