Potty Mouth - And I Don't Mean The Kids!

Dear EM,

My husband and I have been friends with Paul and Cathy for over 15 years. We get together with our kids often, especially in the summer. The problem is, once Paul gets a few drinks in him, he tends to start cursing. This doesn't offend me personally, but I don't want my kids, who are both under the age of 10, to hear and/or repeat this type of language. What can I do to let Paul know we don't appreciate this type of talk in front of the kids?

-Tired of Potty Mouth in Des Moines

Dear Tired,

You can try playfully hinting that you don't appreciate his potty mouth by saying something like "Boy, I hope I don't get a note from the teacher next week telling me my kid said @*$% - if I do, I'll give her your number!" If that doesn't work, try a more straight forward approach, such as: "Let's try to take it easy on the four letter words - there are little ears around." If all else fails, start serving Paul lemonade - the virgin kind!

Bottom Line: If they are truly your friends, Paul will try to respect your wishes. If he can't, perhaps you should only see them when you have a babysitter. Good luck!

~Expert Mom