My husband and I consider ourselves good parents.  We try our best to parent "by the book": with a lot of positive reinforcement, setting good examples, enforcing consequences for inappropriate behavior while rewarding good behavior, and most of all, surrounding our children and household with an abundance of love.  I read articles on the Supernanny website (she is my mini-hero) on how to approach certain issues, but for the most part, I think I am doing a good job.  There are those moments, though, where all of my sanity as the Good Mommy go right out the window, and the mischevous sarcastic child within laughs out loud when my youngest drops his britches in the parking lot of our local grocery store to pee, or when he runs from bath time in true "Home Alone" fashion.

As an adult, I know that my parents have a great sense of humor, but when I was a kid, I thought they didn't have a funny bone in either body.  I am positive that there were moments where my younger brother and I, in typical mischevous fare, would do things that had my parents laughing until they cried, but they sure didn't show it.  Looking back I sit in absolute AWE at how they were able to be stern parents when the time came for it.  My husband and I are running into a pickle with our two boys.  They are quite intelligent, and, just like their parents, are quite sarcastic.  Some of the sarcasm comes completely innocently, while others are ways to push our buttons and test boundries.  (Being a responsible parent is no fun, by the way.)  We are trying to set a good example and display appropriate behavior in the house so that we aren't the parents whose rules are based upon "do as I say, not as I do".   When the kids do inappropriate things, it usually is funny.  At least in that moment it seems that way.  In keeping with the responsible parent theme though, despite our humor,  we promptly correct the inappropriate behavior.   Here is where our pickle lies:  Our credibility.  It all starts with the looks and reactions from the boys, and quite frankly, the initial inappropriate behavior, that has us muffling our laughter in every possible way.  We can't help it.....when it is funny, it is funny!  But it really isn't funny, is it?  Especially when we are trying to teach our young ones important life lessons.  (While we know how to properly behave, I must warn you that we enjoy life, enjoy humor, and really try to see the lighter side of everything.  Our sense of humor, because of our zest for life, may come across as inappropriate to some.)  More often than not, our youngest, who is 4, is saying and doing some of the craziest things.  (If you read any of my previous posts, you would know what I am referring to....if not, go read "He said WHAT!!")  He is noticing now, that when he smarts off or does something really funny but really wrong, that his parents have a certain look about them.  That "look" where you are trying not to laugh, or you are hiding your face behind a napkin, or actually holding your lips shut to prevent outbursts of laughter.  This "look" gives him further motivation, and clearance so to speak, to continue the inappropriate behavior and amp it up a few notches.  Obviously it no longer becomes funny, and now his feelings get hurt when we are no longer laughing and have to raise our voices to catch his attention.  I certainly don't like hurting my little guy's feelings, especially when this whole situation could have been avoided if my parents had just given me their secret to their stoic Iron Faces.  (I know, I know.....the "blame your parents for your problems" trick.....).  Seriously, though, how do you balance a great sense of humor with great parenting skills?  How do you NOT laugh when your kid says something totally inappropriate then flashes his super sweet smile at you?  Or laugh when your peeing child at Kroger makes an old lady nearly drop her keys and gasp?

So the big question here is:  When is it healthy to laugh with your kids, and when is it not? 

I'll let you know.....we are still trying to figure it out!  (Wish us luck please)