just jokin'

Joseph is "just jokin'" a lot of the time. Sometimes the joking is appropriate. Sometimes it's an excuse for misbehavior.

Appropriate:
Joseph: "mama, I have two bites left."
me: "that's great Joseph."
Joseph: "mama, I was just joking about something."
me: "what is that?"
Joseph: "'cause I have ZERO bites left!!!!"

Inappropriate:
me: "Joseph, did you hit, smother, push. . . . fill-in-the-blank. . . your brother?"
Joseph: "no."
me: "Then why is he screaming, crying, bleeding. . . fill-in-the-blank. . . etc.?"
Joseph: "I pushed him. I was just jokin'."