Lies, etc.
The Girl Child lied to us last night. Not the end of the world, you know. Kids lie. Most people lie. However, I came down on her with great firmness to nip this problem in the bud. As I explained to her, a lie is the death of trust. If I cannot trust her, it will be just horrible. Besides, we cannot let her get away with lying now, when she isnÂ’t quite six, because she was already showing flashes of brilliance in her lie last night. Heck, she could go pro one day.
HereÂ’s what happened: she wrote her name on the fabric of the seat of one of the kitchen chairs.
Upon confronting her, here was her outstanding lie: “I don’t think that I wrote that. It doesn’t even look like my handwriting.” Damn, isn’t that great? She didn’t deny writing it just said she was uncertain. Then she gave supporting proof – the name did not resemble her handwriting. Note, she didn’t say that it wasn’t her handwriting; just that it didn’t look like it. It was subtlety on subtlety. Good one.
Just the same, we cannot let that continue. I explained to her that she was in more trouble for lying to me than she was for the graffiti.
* * *
I might as well share one other happening this weekend to show how the natives are getting restless, how rebellion is breaking out all over the house. The Viking Bride asked the Boy Child, 3.5, to clean up his toys. He thought for a moment, looked at her, and replied: “Ain’t happening”.
She laughed. Me, too. Almost as hard as when we were driving to the playground on Sunday and I spotted a Model-T driving along the Post Road. I pointed it out to the kids and the Girl Child, swiftly echoed by the Boy Child, exclaimed: “Sweeeeet”.
Finally, yesterday morning, the Baby awoke before the Viking Bride was prepared for him to wake and the Girl Child and the Boy Child were also up. GC, after asking for permission, went into the BabyÂ’s room where the Viking Bride found her holding a book up over the crib so the Baby could see the pictures while she went over all the colors with him. I gather it was very cute.
Posted by: Random Penseur at
10:34 AM
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Yes. In our own on-going Girl Who Cried Wolf Too Often drama, the Four Year Old told me her stomach hurt this morning. She also told the Missus, her teacher, the assistant teacher and an office secretary. Oddly, none of us believed her. It wasn't until she hurled that we began to think there might be something to it, and even then part of my mind wondered whether even this wasn't staged.
Posted by: Robert the Llama Butcher at November 21, 2006 03:41 PM (piZDb)
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What a lovely family you have.
; )
Posted by: Christina at November 21, 2006 07:40 PM (NUhQR)
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RP, your kids are too funny and too smart. The bit about truth-telling reminded me of the day I sent my 3 kids to their rooms until someone 'fessed up who broke my imitation Ming vase. Eldest, one minute later, told me she did it. There were no consequences (because as a parent I felt I must honor truth and 'accident'). Years later she told me, she did not break it but she didn't want to be in lock-down. You see, even at a tender age, the balance is to make them feel assured the consequences will be less with a confession than a denial and that is a really sticky business.
Posted by: Roberta S at November 22, 2006 05:45 PM (it0Ip)
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I see your family is doing beautifully. That is how I nipped my son's first lie in the bud & now he confesses before I'm even told of any wayward behavior, so I believe that tack works well. although I have to say, your daughter showed great sophistication in her defense strategy. Could the law possibly be in her future?
I'm so glad your mom came through so well. her first few chemos will be her next hurdle.
If I may, I'd like to offer a different perspetive on your mom's operation by way of a question. I wonder how would you feel if you had a gonad and part of your sack removed? Relieved or less than whole?
Posted by: michele at November 23, 2006 02:50 AM (k5fMO)
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Thanks for the comments, y'all.
Michelle, I take your point. However, having just had a vasectomy, I feel like I can put myself in that place just a little bit already. And just the same, I would regard lifesaving surgery as a celebration not as a sadness. I kind of like life, most of the time.
Posted by: rp at November 23, 2006 02:10 PM (ODSoE)
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