You know those times when you absolutely can not laugh or else you will completely spoil the point you are trying to make with your children? I've never been so glad that it was dark as I was tonight in the car.

I've been trying for months, if not years, to get my kids to stop making potty jokes. There is nothing as funny to them as inserting the word "poop" or "fart" into any sentence. And I'm just sick of it. I've tried all kinds of different punishments, but so far nothing has worked.

So tonight B&B were just totally wild in the back seat. I had already threatened that if they didn't calm down they were going straight to bed when we got home. I think they thought I was bluffing. Even though they had a very hearty snack before we left at 5:15, they hadn't technically had dinner yet and were expecting this upon arrival.

So Bailey is doing something with her electronic diary, and Bradley says, "Change the password to 'poopy'"! Tee-hee, tee-hee. She readily agrees and yells "POOPY!" I snap. "You are both going straight to bed when we get home!"

"But MOM, we haven't had dinner yet!"

"Sorry. Should have thought about that when I warned you."

Tears. Weeping. Rending of clothes. Gnashing of teeth.

So now it's time for that teachable moment. "You know, the Bible says that you are not to let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth. That means you are only to use your mouth for encouraging others, learning and teaching and praising God." (I'm kindof learning this right now myself, actually.)

Bradley pipes up in his snubbiest voice, "Yes, ma'am... those are words to live by."

Thankfully I swallowed the laugh, but my face would have been a dead giveaway!