I dislike that word and the accompanying eye-roll. We strongly discourage its usage in this house, but it isn't an infraction on the same level as swearing or saying hurtful, mean things. If one of my kids use it, they usually get the, "No, not 'whatever.' This is important because of XYZ" lecture.

I don't make an issue with the word. If my son says it, I respond with, "Rephrase."

I do take issue when he gets sassy and takes a snotty tone iwth me. Then we have issues.

My kids are less interested in "whatever" and more interested in creative ways to sneak in actual swear words: "He's being the word they said in the movie last night." Also, "Shut up" is a steady battle in my house. I had a sixth grade teacher who used to say, "you can say shut, and you can say up, but you can't say shut and up together."

My mother used to caution my sister and I not to go outside because "the air was blue." This confused us, as we knew air had no color. When Mom finally explained that Dad was cussing – probably at the bulls or a tractor – we told her we'd heard those words plenty of times.

The only "W" that's tantamount to a swear word in our house is the one that stand's for George W. Bush.

David: Sounds like something a founding member of the Dallas County Liberal Club would say. ;)

Beth: You nailed it.