Cursing and Swearing

My 4 year old has been experimenting with cursing and swearing recently, introducing words to get a reaction and test how 'naughty' they are.

After nursery this morning he told me he knew a swear, but he wasn't going to say it. I told him this was good, I don't want to hear it. He ran off shouting, "I won't say it, but it begins with foll".

*Sigh...*

I can't think of a single swear word that begins with 'foll', and I tried to ignore it and carry on with the washing and forget about it, but it was bugging me. Ten minutes later and against my better judgement I resumed conversation about swearing and bad language, in the hopes he'd just mention it without my asking. He again referred to the swear word he knew that starts with 'foll'. "Are you sure it starts foll?" I asked as casually as I could. Yep, he replied "fuh...oh...ol" and off he went again. I really had to drop it now.

Making tea in the kitchen is thinking time and I carried on trying to work out what he could be on about. I couldn't think of anything that fits. I'm more grown up than that, I should be able to let it drop and talk about anything else, but it really was bugging me. What if he had a swear word that I don't even know exists? I can't let the teenagers get one over on me, I have to know what everything they talk about is referring to at all times, it's a defensive measure. I might lose control and then everything could come crashing down on us and anarchy would reign. Convincing myself I now have to know because it's vitally important I called him into the kitchen.

"You know that word you didn't say earlier?"
"Yes"
"I can't remember what it was, can you remind me please?"
"It was two words. It was foll-locks"

"Thanks, that's it. Thank you for reminding me. Thank you also for reminding me that you are only 4, because for a minute there I think I forgot.....now never say it again, will you"...."I won't Mum, pinky promise"....

I think that may just be one 4 year old promise you can keep to....