THE "F" WORD, DO WE ALL USE IT?

    She was 11 years old, doing her homework in the living room while I was tutoring her younger brother in the kitchen. She was completing a social studies crossword puzzle and she called out for the spelling of "Kaifu." I answered from the kitchen: "K,A,I" and then "F,U." Her brother, mother, she and I all laughed at the remark, no problem, an innocent remark mimicking the obscene expression. I kind of apologized for the sound of it. Then she came into the room and with all the world-weariness of her 11 years, stated that it should be no surprise to hear F U come from anyone's mouth, as everyone says it. I told her that I for one did not use that expression, and neither did "everybody else." I felt safe saying that because I knew that she had not or ever would hear me utter that phrase. But secretly I feel a little guilty that a kid has to know so much about life.