I've developed a bad habit. I thought I only did it around Maddie and Justin. I was wrong.

And someone at work caught me. Then, he called me out on it.

"Um, Chelsea- did you, um, did you just say 'dude'?"

Crap. I'm a 30 year old valley girl. Righteous.

I don't know when it started, but I use that stupid word all day long. Maddie shows me something new- "Cool, dude." I can't convince Maddie that I'm right, and she's wrong- "Whatever, dude." Maddie yells at me, while sitting on the potty, that she is going poo poo- "Do your thang, dude."

Tonight, I said it to an adult. He asked for me to help him- "Sure thing, dude." I. Must. Be. Stopped.

Or, should I?

Maybe I should embrace my inner valley girl. It sounds, like, totally gnarly, dude. I could, like, you know, say whatever, sounds awesomely cool.

Cowabunga. Dude.