I can honestly say, that I swear at least once a day and I don't have a problem with it. Swearing is after all ingrained in my culture. Us Irish, are known for having a way with words, having the gift of the gab, as we like to say. Most of us love to tell a tale or two and of course throw in some humour, along with it.
I grew up hearing my parents and grandparents (the ones that were still alive) swearing. Feck this and feck that, talking about such and such a gobshite down the road, or that ould cunt down the other one. I never got unsettled by it, or took offence, if I was called a little fecker. I guess because it has more to do with the tone of voice used, rather than the meaning of the words. The fact that swearing is not really seen as a bad thing in Ireland.
My girls used to call me out on it, how much I swear, because they didn't grow up in Ireland, they didn' get to have the same experiences as me. It wasn't until they got older and were really able to engage with family back in Ireland that they saw that I am actually not so weird, as they thought. Especially when they see me and my sister together and how much we like to take the piss out of each other (i.e make fun of one another), at first they were shocked, but now they love to join in.
I do think, we have a different relationship with swearing, than most other countries. We don't usually get offended if we are swore at, more so if we are labelled lazy or boring, then we'll take offence and most likely swear at you.
I have had a lot of fun in life so far both before becoming a parent and since becoming one. Whats life without play, it's certainly not for me. I really love it when it doesn't cost anything either. From my twenties going to squat parties in London, to the present day where I like to help create events in my community. I have written before about being part of the Decor team for The Love Pirates Festival. The festival itself is not free ( well it is for me as I am a member of the crew), but it is so affordable. It happens in May and I along with the two other members of the Decor crew, get together early in the year to check the decor and make some new stuff. I love being creative, I'm not really a painter or drawer, but i do like to make things out of recycled materials.
Then there is the set up of the festival. I swear I enjoy that just as much or even more that the actually festival itself. This year, I was one of the first people there along with the organisers and I got involved with putting up the different tents and structures n each area. Once the main structure was up, that meant some tunes could be played. These were long days, working with the sun, shoulder to shoulder with the crew, with plenty of laughs and taking the piss (something I do enjoy). We had a crew chef onsite, that made us some great food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, which meant all the crew got together at least 3 times a day. I loved it. Yes I was pretty knackered by the time the festival started, but I can't wait to do it all again next year.
I love to be busy, I love to use my hands, being creative. I also love to dance and have fun, which this whole experience provided for me, I had so many magical moments with different members of the crew, gosh I lost count of the amount of times I nearly peed myself laughing. Times where it was also very inconvenient, especially when I was holding a pole in place when were erecting one of the structures. But that made it even funnier. Honestly, the best things in life are free.
