Can You Unlearn a Word?

Recently, I went to pick up Young Man from school. He was sitting in a chair with a pout on his face. His teachers informed me that he was being punished for uttering the word stupid. This word is not one that I use, so immediately I asked Young Man how he came to learn that word. He didn't say. Of course, I thought it was some other kid.



We drove home and I asked again, but Young Man wouldn't confess to how he learned the word. I agreed to let him watch a DVD and watched a bit with him to unwind a little before starting dinner. And then I heard the word uttered from the DVD. It's in a line from Peppermint Patty in A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Anyway, I was horrified and the DVD is no longer in our collection. The other Peanuts DVDs seem to be okay.



I realize it could have been worse. I haven't heard him say the word lately, so I hope he sort of forgets about it.