Let me start with full disclosure: I am a Fourth of July chicken.

I have never been comfortable with booms, pops, bangs and hyped up kids.

That said, I know I am a minority in this matter.

For kids, and many adults, there is nothing quite as fun as blowing things up on the Fourth of July. And in terms of naughty things people do, it's relatively harmless IF you use common sense.

But as a mom, I cringe. Someone is gonna get hurt. You can poke an eye out with that thing, etc. etc. I admit it, I have turned into my mother.

Still ...

So here's a question for all you other chickens -- how do you handle the Fourth with your kids. What are your rules? And how do you enforce them when everyone else around you is playing by a different set of rules?

How come there is nothing quite as funny as burping -- unless of course you're passing gas another way? Or eliminating body wastes.

We tend to think it is adolescent -- especially male adolescent -- humor. But come on, let's face it -- a fair number of adults and girls get giggles over potty-style humor. I even read in Newsweek that President George W. Bush is a huge fan of flatulance jokes. Go figure.

So what makes it so funny? So fascinating?

Last month Wondertime magazine addressed this question and exposed some interesting points -- at least when it comes to younger kids and their potty humor fascination.

"Whether swapping diaper-disaster stories on the playground or simply expressing shock at what your child can produce 'down there,' kids learn to associate potty talk with a certain level of excitement or arousal, directly from you, their parents."

Think about it:

-- Parents talk about poop all the time during the diaper and potty training years -- forgeting that little ears are taking it all in.

-- Look at how our own (parental) language changes as our children approach potty training age. i.e. "Do you need to poop?" versus "Do you need to go to the bathroom?" Wondertime says this language censorship on our part, immediately signals the every appealing taboo notion to kids.

-- And finally, we parents need to lighten up, Wondertime says. We need to acknowledge our own use of the langauge and be comfortable with the topic before setting expectations for our children.

That said ...

Wondertime reminds us that we are the example -- so set rules, but have a sense of humor as well:

"Don't be afraid to laugh at potty jokes, if they are funny, but determine a precedent for setting: every joke has an inappropriate setting -- don't be strict, be clear."

Remember, kids observe us and learn how to get a reaction out of us. Regardless of whether we are restraining a guffaw or are genuinely mortified "be consistent with your attitude," Wondertime says.

And finally, be perfectly clear. There is a big difference between "private" and "bad." Bodily functions are not a bad thing, they also aren't commonly shared in public. Treat our potty language similarly, Wondertime says.

Odds are this reminder will help if you have little ones at home.

But, what if you have teenagers? Well, that's a whole new ballgame. With luck we can at least, impart the idea of appropriate and inappropriate.

However -- with teens, there are no guarantees.

For anyone following the story of Misty and Logan Roots and their newborn identical triplet girls, here's an up date:

Babies 1 and 3 -- Nova and Karma are doing great and are sharing a bed in the NICU at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center. Baby 2 -- Scarlett is doing quite well after an intestinal issue last week. Soon she may be able to cuddle in the same bed as her sisters.

The girls should all go home in mid-July.

Identical triplets are very rare -- occurring about one in every 50,000 to 200 million births. It's a huge range of estimates, but that is because they occur so infrequently. Unlike multiple births aided by fertility treatments, identicals are the gift of Mother Nature. Truly it is a blessing -- allbeit an overwhelming one.

Logan and Misty, along with their 17-month-old daughter Fianna, are very excited about everyone coming home soon. They are eager to be all together as a family. Yet, the unknown of living with three newborns, plus a toddler, has got to weigh heavy on their minds.

Let's help them out by offering helpful advice for staying sane, happy and confident as they embark on this new road.

I'll start with the advice I have heard many times before:
Accept offers of help. It is not a sign of weakness. It is a chance to replenish yourself, be the best you can be, and enjoy your family.

Now it's your turn.

Here's a great idea from an Eden Prairie, Minn. mom that will spice up the summer for any family.

About once a month and her husband secretly plan a Family Adventure Day. They don't tell the kids anything until they are in the car and ready to go. From there it becomes 20 questions -- yes and no questions only -- as the kids try to figure out where mom and dad are taking them on the day-long surprise vacation.

I still remember back when I was about 4 or 5, my parents loaded me up and took me to a "Green Bay Packers Game." Although I was not a fan back then, I vividly remember the surprise afterward -- a trip to a great little amusement park where I spun in magical teacups and pet tame reindeer.

It must have left some kind of impression, since I can still see those teacups 43 years later.

Eight years ago, when our son was starting kindergarten we did something similar and surprised in with a weekend at Worlds of Fun. We told him we were going shopping for school supplies and that the supplies we needed were a long way way. The look on his face, when he realized where we were, will forever be etched in my mind. And these days, the kid is too quick to be fooled easily -- but when we get away with it, it sure is fun.

Got any vacation adventure secrets you want to share?

Friday (June 20) is Take Your Dog to Work Day.

No doubt, it's a spin-off on Take Your Daughter to Work Day, and the subsequent more politically correct, Take Your Child to Work Day.

Of course the idea with kids was that they would gain an appreciation for what their parents do, and develop an interest in various professions -- especially those that used to be more gender specific.

On the few occasions where I have taken my son to work with me (when he was much younger) he was mostly bored out of his mind and begged to go in the break room so he could eat vending machine food and watch cartoons on the television. I can honestly say it did not inspire him to appreciate what I do or even aspire to joining the profession.

I cannot imagine how the dog would appreciate coming to work with me.

Or put another way, I cannot imagine the management here at work embracing all sorts of dogs -- large, small, shedders, barkers and leg lifters.

I love my dog. I would love to have him beside me all day.

I don't think I would get much done. He tends to like to keep his paws firmly planted on top of my arms.

And I seriously doubt he would gain a newfound appreciation for what I do all day -- with the exception of being able to sniff a lot of interesting stuff.

That said, if are employed at a place that welcomes dogs on the job, here are some Take Your Dog to Work Day tips:

1. Give your dog a good walk or workout before heading to the office.
2. Take lots of potty breaks. (Bring extra plastic bags for just in case)
3. Keep him/her under control. We know it's hard to believe, but some people don't like dogs nosing around their privates.
4. Don't take your dog into the lunch room.
5. Leave the squeaky toy at home, but do bring something like a bone to occupy the boring times.
6. No matter how tempting, do not sic Fluffy on that annoying co-worker/boss.
7. At the end of the day, take your best fuzzy bud out for happy hour -- preferably a place that serves dog treats.