Nothing brings my children to hysterical laughter as much as, well ... "passing gas."

I know, who wants to read about such a topic on Sunday? Trust me, I'd like nothing more than to never have to hear about it again.

However, with two 5-year-olds, such discussions and comments are never ending. In fact, bodily functions in general seem to be quite amusing to them.

I have a feeling potty humor will linger for some time in our house, and may stay around until the teen years for my son.

When they were 3, it was cute when my children said anything. Potty talk was cute, too, even though in retrospect, maybe we shouldn't have let them know how cute we thought it was.

Two years later, "farting" has worked its way into nearly every conversation. It's the noise that seems to thrill the most.

The only thing that they find funnier than the sound of this particular body function is what happens when they do it in water. Bath time will never be the same. *Sigh*

I have tried to punish the kids for the potty talk, but it seems odd giving them a time out because they think farting is funny.

When I was a kid, it was funny. Then I got older and it became gross, then I got a job and an education and a husband, and it became ... well, just a fact of life.

Leave it to my children to remind me that gas is funny. Sometimes I can't help but let out a giggle myself, although it's more about the children finding so much joy in something so simple.

Their grandma is less than thrilled with their language choices. She doesn't like the potty talk ... at all. So after some time with the grandma, they no longer use the "fart" word. Instead, they "stepped on a frog" or "tooted." (One night my daughter burped and apologized for having "cut the cheese," but that may have come from an older cousin, not grandma.)

I think part of the thrill for them is that now, since they know they will get a reaction out of us when they engage in that subject matter, they challenge us a little, push our buttons, and put an exclamation point on a really long day.

What's a parent to do? Of course, there are some words or phrases that we would deter our children for saying ... but does this fall under that category?

It makes we realize that, without a doubt, there are some things you can never prepare for until you are in the act of parenting. It never occurred to me that I would spend so much time talking about, scolding or ignoring, these types of discussions.

But here I am, actually writing a column that will be read by family members and friends, fellow parents, co-workers and clients, about .. um, gas.

Aahhhh, the joy of parenting.

Kym Byrnes writes from Finksburg. E-mail her at kymbyrnes@gmail.com.

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