I suck at lying. Seriously, I'm horrible at it. My poker face is non-existent. I can't even lie when people aren't looking at me, because I start laughing. However, if I have to lie to my children, I will. And do.
A few weeks ago I watched Mary McCormack do an interview on Chelsea Lately. She stated that she lies to her children, frequently. She gave an example- one time they were at the beach, and the kids really wanted to go in the water. She told them the ocean was broke, and acted disappointed. The kids bought it. I thought it was GENIUS. Fast forward a few days, where I'm talking to a friend. I tell her about it (because again, I found it GENIUS). My friend tells me how horrible that is, and how disrespectful it is to lie to your kids....blah, blah, blah.
Then a thought hits me. So I say, "Hey, Kate (name change). You tell your kids about Santa. That's a frakin' lie. So aren't you being disrespectful to your children?" She replies, "No way, that's different. That wont hurt them!"
Riiiiiight. Telling your kids that a fat guy is going to break in to their home and leave them gifts isn't going to hurt them in the slightest. Not to mention at some point, they're going to find out you lied about the fat man, and really it is you and your husband snarfing down cookies instead of a jolly man. (I'd like to point out at this time that I do, in fact, tell my kids about Santa- but remember, I'm not above lying to them, she is).
So I say, "Um, hello hypocritical turd friend! A lie is a lie, any way you cut it. Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Goldie the Gold Fish "running away" from home- all big fat lies. EVERYONE lies to their kid at some point."
Obviously, she doesn't like these truths. She tells me she has to go, then hangs up.
I've told many lies to my kids, mostly harmless. I don't see the harm in it. Sure, eventually they'll figure out that I was totally sleeping and not just resting my eyes, or that I don't really have eye balls in the back of my head, but who cares?
All parents lie. The sooner they figure out that it can be used to their advantage, the better. (provided its nothing dangerous).
I've only got about 4 more years of this left, then the older two will start catching on. I've got to milk this while I can. Tomorrow, I may be scrubbing the toilet with crazy toxic cleaners that make kids grow second heads, when in reality I'm catching up on a game of solitaire on my kindle with the bathroom door shut, enjoying a few minutes of quiet.
Don't judge. Or do, I don't care. :)
4 comments:
Where is the like or agree button?
I love it!!!
I guess the reason I don't lie is that God tells us (over and over and over and over again) not to...that's a good enough reason for me. Also, eventually, your kids will figure out you're lying, and someday, you may wish you had modeled honesty to them in their formative years. Just a thought!
We teach about the SPIRIT of Santa Claus, and talk about how Saint Nick was real, etc, but our kids know that he's not REALLY coming down our chimney...but we pretend. The reason I don't push Santa or the Easter Bunny, etc., is that I don't want God to get lumped in that category. I know I lied to you about Santa, that guy that sees you all the time, knows when you're sleeping, knows when you're awake, knows if you've been bad or good...he's fake. But GOD, now GOD is real. I just can't risk my kids not knowing the difference. And I also can't risk my kids becoming people of poor integrity because I didn't model integrity in my home. That, and I also would like to go to heaven some day...and since lying is sin (not my words, but Almighty God's!), and sin won't enter heaven...it makes my choice pretty clear.
God tells us not to do a lot of things that we still do- we aren't perfect, and he knows that.
Some lies are harmless- such as the ones I'm suggesting. Other lies are not. In any event, every parent lies to their child at some point- and anyone who says they don't is a liar themselves.
The friend I was refering to does not teach of the "spirit" of Santa. She teaches her kids that a giant fat man comes down their chimney to leave presents.
Kudos to you for not lying to your children. I, however, will continue to do so- and still make it into Heaven!
Thanks for looking out though! ;)
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