I will, like, always thank my, like, father for, like, tormenting me so that I, like, don't USE this, like, word as space filler.

In fact, he tormented me ANY time a word became space filler.

I love my dad.

Too many adults never lose this habit.

Our dear friend, higher educated at Stanford University... (if you're reading this, we love ya,G!)

One of my classmates, a doctoral student...

It's not a discriminatory habit. However, it's one we intend to free our children from, just as my dad did to us. Phoebe already catches herself when she does it - though we drove her to tears last weekend because of it. Bad Mom or Good Mom moment? Only time will tell.