Week 35 Family Challenge: No Swearing—Round Two

Welcome back to another week in our 52-Week Family Challenge! Have you noticed how the smallest words can shape the mood of your whole home? This week, we’re giving language another look with our No Swearing Challenge—Round Two. That’s right—we’re bringing back one of our earliest challenges because even simple practices bear fruit when we circle back. (If you missed the original challenge, you can find the first version here.)

This week’s goal is gentle but meaningful: choose one word, phrase, or habit you’d like to let go of for the week. Maybe it’s a swear word you don’t love hearing, a filler phrase that doesn’t serve anyone (“um,” “like,” “anyways”), or something else you’re ready to observe and slow down around.

Why Try It Again?

Our first No-Swearing Challenge wasn’t meant to be a perfection test. It was an invitation to notice our words and invite more grace. Repeating it this week offers fresh reflection and the chance to see how our language habits evolve over time.

How to Do It

Choose your “word to notice.” Maybe it’s something you hear often—or something you’d prefer your family said differently.
Talk about it as a family. No shame or penalties. Just awareness, reminders, and a shared effort to pause instead of speak automatically.
If someone catches it, they can gently say “uh-oh” or “pause and try again.” No punishment. Just a chance to redirect with kindness.
At the end of the week, share what you noticed. Did you swap it out for something kinder or sweeter? Did you laugh together when someone caught it? That’s the heart of the challenge.

A Glimpse Inside

In our home, Claire (now 8) said she didn’t want to hear “um” so much—especially when she was sharing ideas at the dinner table. We asked her to choose something more intentional—so she opted for “here’s what I mean.” It’s become our little family signal for clarity and connection.

Even for us adults, it’s surprising how often we rely on autopilot words until we pause to notice them. Last time, I caught myself saying a word I didn’t even realize I was using. When I noticed, I gently apologized—and that reset the tone for the whole exchange.

What You’ll Gain

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about awareness, care, and language that reflects how we want to live together. It opens space for more patience, more listening, and more gentle connection—especially when days feel long or loud.