The National Writing Examiner interviewed first-time published author, Mrs. Kim Lunansky. A Canadian resident, Kim comes from a wholesome family where swearing was not permitted at all. She has experienced first-hand the always feared soap in the mouth and ramifications of not being taught what bad words meant or how and where to use them. As someone who became an away from home potty mouth, Mrs. Lunansky understands the importance of bringing swearing to the dinner table front and center with your children in order to educate children regarding swearing in a practical life manner.
Kim has three children of her own. Her husband sometimes stands in as a fourth child. Learning the curves of raising children, family life drama, opposing marital views and incorporating her own background into the mix, gives her a unique perspective on what happens to children who are raised under both circumstances. Drawing from her experiences, Mrs. Lunansky is able to wind these together in an easy to read, fun and engaging manner. Readers scramble at the opportunity to devour this fresh new approach to age old issues involved with raising children and coping with the reality of swearing.
1. Why do you think parents should teach their kids to swear?
Well, teaching kids to swear without offending anyone is definitely a large scale minefield. In today’s society, swearing is everywhere. Children hear it at school on the play-ground; it’s in their music, video games, on television and at the movies. Honestly, swearing is universal and I don’t believe education regarding swearing is much different than the need for sex education.
Parents teach their children facts concerning sexuality, but forty or fifty years ago it was a taboo subject. They teach their kids about sex today, so the children are informed regarding potential diseases, which are life-threatening. And, post-pubescent teens need to understand pregnancy is a direct result of sexual activity. Informative education, preferably by parents to their own children, with school and church serving as secondary resources is essential to help children to reach adulthood without complications and undue burdens from misinformed choices.
A few years ago, it shocked everyone around the world some schools began to suspend students for holding hands or hugging in school. When you and I were growing up, we may have gotten time out if our teacher heard us swear. Today, children are suspended for swearing. Racism and bullying can be derived from poorly chosen vocabulary as well – so kids have to be taught appropriate language. Even in a conservative family where swearing is not tolerated - children are still exposed to foul language. Parents have to be proactive and have an action plan ready to engage their children and teach them how to swear or how not to swear.
2. What inspired you to write this book?
One weekend my husband and I traveled to Michigan for Black Friday to shop with friends of ours. During the trip, I inquired if our friends taught their kids to swear. Unfortunately, the topic of educating our children to swear ‘appropriately,’ is one my husband and I argue about consistently. He believes children shouldn't be allowed to swear at all, but I think children are going to swear regardless of our desire for them not too. Therefore, to me, it is important kids are educated concerning this stuff.
During our Black Friday excursion, our friends laughed at the conversation. We discussed it over lunch and while driving finding it mutually entertaining conversation. In fact, it became an enjoyable outlet and discussion regarding a topic parents typically do not address and we all concurred a book should be written about the topic. Our friends recommended I should write the book on teaching kids to swear as a guidebook for parents.
Their suggestion stuck with me, it seemed to be a very good idea. I realized there is a need for education and perhaps, liberty, for parents to teach their kids to swear. I decided, “Ya, I totally could write a book about this,” – so I did.
3. How do you think your book will be helpful to today’s parent?
In my own life managing a family, I have had my fair share of experiences – perhaps not enough to cover every situation, but enough to aid other parents with objectivity regarding this topic. This book covers addresses controversial and taboo topics with a laugh out loud, knee-slapping, sensitivity to supply parents with the perspective required to steer their children in the right direction while letting them know they are not alone in this. The fact is, kids swear – this book gets real with readers.
4. What makes you an expert on this subject?
As a mother, I have been raising children for 15 years. During this time, I have attended play dates, parent-teacher association (PTA) meetings, church socials, baby showers and girls’ nights out. Mothers and fathers alike seek advice concerning the notorious potty mouth syndrome.
Whenever these conversations come up, I am always the first to jump in and offer a good story concerning how I have handled a swear-word situation in the past. So, it did not take long to draft these nuggets of wisdom, which have been unwittingly helpful and in retrospect – in ‘hot demand’ over the years. Our friends and community associations have often laughed until their eyes were watered and sides were aching during my retelling of these stories on swearing and child education.
5. How is your book better than any other swearing book on the market?
There are certainly other books out there for raising children regarding manners and etiquette. However, these books are often dry and removed from the convention of the hour. I have found many extend unpractical advisement. Typically, swearing isn’t addressed. And, most address the convention of manners using an 1800’s mindset, without a lot of modernization.
This title, “How to Teach Your Kids to Swear,” provides easy, real life, relatable situations for parents to read and perhaps apply to their own parental arsenal. Using a whimsical stylus, I address ways to resolve swearing situations with kids and present possible positive outcomes through education regarding swearing.
6. How do you want this book to affect today’s family?
Today’s family is so diverse – it is difficult to think ‘one’ title on any subject will affect the universal family; however, it is a hope of mine, to bring laughter and fun to a tough situation for parent and child benefit. If this title helps just a handful of families – it is worth my time and energy.
Being a parent can be tricky at times. “How to Teach Your Kids to Swear,” gives parents a basic guidebook for comparison to their current training on what is a tough subject. Reassuring families and letting them know they are not alone during outrageous and sometimes ridiculous situations, where swearing is involved may help others cope with these often embarrassing scenarios.
Each story shared in my book features unique problems and then provides resolution. Suggestions are provided to help resolve swearing issues to aid readers in understanding consequences and feelings of people involved when swearing occurs require a plan of action and follow-through where our emotions aren't controlling the situation; rather, logic and training are applied.
Helping other parents understand how to work with unwanted swearing behaviors helps them educate children to help prevent those embarrassing or inappropriate situations from happening again in the future in a manner where children feel they are making intelligent decision-making rather than being coerced or punished into appropriate behavior.
Actually, these techniques can be applied to other child-rearing requirements as well, not just swearing.
7. What can you tell us about yourself no one else knows?
My husband won’t be happy to read this and I am going to be in big trouble later for this, but I high five my own children when I approve of their swearing choices. For example, the other day, my 4 year old told me one of the children on the playground at school shared a not so choice word with her. She promptly advised him this word could make other people feel sad. She expressed to him he should be very careful about saying the word he had shared. I believe this is totally awesome!
I woohoo’d and high-fived her sharing what a good job she had done mitigating swear words on the playground with a fellow student. Had I not taught her about ‘how to swear,’ she would have learned the wrong way to swear from her playmate on the playground.
Instead, she helped someone else with her correct knowledge and training concerning ‘how to swear.’
8. Is this your first time writing a book?
This is my first time being publishing; however, I have been writing books now for nearly ten years and this is due to the fact I began writing books when my son entered pre-school. At the time, it was difficult to keep his interest in reading. In order to facilitate his learning, I begin writing children’s stories, which involved his own ideas. This got him engaged in learning and my children have found this new experience in publishing my book very exciting.
9. If the purpose of the book is to help parents gain objectivity they are looking for and to get them laughing; do you believe this idea transcends into other areas of life?
Yes, I absolutely do.
Don’t sweat the small stuff or pick your battles are tag lines I use all the time with my children, my husband and at work. If a parent or individual is constantly nagging others they just get tuned out. If parents appear to be the constant whiners about everything their children do, they achieve little in the day-to-day. Conversely, if maintain a solid fun-filled, but leadership consistency, in my estimation they go further with the big stuff because people listen more intently for good leadership coupled with laughter and empathy.
As far as the silver lining goes, I am a never-ending optimist and look at the bright side of everything. Making life fun and everyday a little lighter – makes our role as parents much easier.
10. What objectivity will a parent get a taste of inside the book?
My book gives parents an honest reflection of children and what they are really like. It showcases family life, the hilarity of familial events, parenting and offers much needed conflict-resolution. This title includes many differing stories and scenarios where children might swear, such as family events, grocers, in sibling squabbles, and etc. Creative suggestions are provided to help solve the problems associated with swearing. For many parents, when a situation is occurring in the moment, quick fixes don’t come to mind readily; however, after learning some quick fixes – then when an incident happens in real-time, there’s a repository of knowledge to draw from and this helps problem-solving.
Having a composite of differing perspectives, gives parents the capability to identify a point of view they can work with, which will make, in this case, swearing situations easier to resolve.
When asked, “How would you feel if someone was calling you names at work? How would you handle it?” Creative solutions are provided through a humorist guise and then this correlates directly to children and their situations aiding parents to understand their children are sometimes faced with tumultuous experiences too. Drawing from a parental perspective it is easier to educate our children regarding swearing.
11. As a parent, do you find a difference in the swearing of children with different ages?
Of course, when I’m talking to my 4 year old I help her relate to situations and ways she can understand, which are altogether different than when engaging my 14 year old daughter.
12. Where can we learn more about you as an author on the Internet Mrs. Lunansky?
I understand by the end of March my profile will be shared on over 200 Internet social media service (SNS) websites via my publisher. Currently, the SNS my publisher has prepared for me include:
• Author Website: www.KimLunansky.org
• Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKLunansky
• LinkedIn Profile: ca.linkedin.com/pub/kim-lunansky/57/bb0/608
• Publisher Website: www.donnaink.org
• Twitter: @KimLunansky
• Wordpress Blog: http://kimlunansky.wordpress.com
13. Where can we find your title?
For print copy on the publisher website: www.donnaink.org and also on my website, which points back to the publisher eCommerce: www.kimlunansky.org.
For eBook(s), you can search for me on Amazon, PubIt, Smashwords, and etc.).
Also, a series of distributors, wholesalers and mass market allocations are being featured in 2013.
I believe a sell sheet is in the slide deck with this interview for bulk and/or vendor orders.
14. Can you share some insights into your next book?
“How to Survive Family Curses” is a follow up to this release and is a comical marriage guide for getting through the tougher times.
“Evolution” is a Youth Fictional story that follows a seemingly average teenager and the adventures that ensue as she evolves into something much more.
15. Will you be at any events this spring?
Yes, I'm going to be at the Dayton Ohio Book Expo this spring, here are the details:
Saturday, April 27, 2013
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
David H. Ponitz Conference Center
Sinclair Community College
Great Hall - Building 12
444 West Third Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402
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Mrs. Lunansky, the National Writing Examiner wants to thank you for interviewing with us today. The Examiner often shares author interviews and we have found your title extraordinarily interesting, unique and original. Additionally, this shares entertaining and engaging stories regarding swearword situations and effective resolution.
The National Writing Examiner believes your way of parenting and thoughts concerning training children regarding difficult topics is worthy of our readers. It is our sincere hope you achieve literary success in 2013 and beyond! And, we look forward to your next titles, which sound equally interesting and unique.
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National Writing Examiner welcomes questions, ideas and interviews or event announcements - through the comments section below, or by e-mailing.
Have a blessed day! :-)
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