Do you tell little white lies to your children?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
June 18, 2008 4:23pm CST
I've always prided myself on being a really honest person,
especially when it comes to being a mom.
I try to set a good example for my daughter.
But lately she has become fixated on chocolate chip cookies.
And the other day she asked for a few cookies before
meal time.
And you know how that will turn out.
If she eats the cookies, she turns down dinner
and is not hungry.
So I just casually said, "Mommy lost the cookies! We
don't have anymore." The words just fell out of my mouth.
I don't know where they came from.
She shrugged her shoulders and said, "Oh well!" and went
back in the other room to watch TV and play with her dolls
as if it were no big deal. Normally, if I came right out
and said, no cookies before dinner, she starts the screaming
fit and is inconsolable. But my accidental white lie
saved the day.
Have you ever told a tiny white lie for a good reason?
Maybe to spare your child's feelings or to keep them
from spoiling dinner?
Like if a pet died, would you just say that the pet ran
away to live on a farm? Or, would you tell them the
harsh truth?
How do you handle situations like this?
1 person likes this
13 responses
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
19 Jun 08
i really dont know yet. my son is just two years old and so far all i tell him is the truth. maybe yes there will come a time where i need to have to tall him a little white lie, but i hope it will not be a habit har har har. but i know my mom tells us white lies too, that we believe but later on when we are big enough to know the truth we figured it out ourselves.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Thank you for your comments.
I'm sure you'll figure out the right
thing to say when the time arrives!
Be well.
@kristineclaireiida (211)
• Philippines
19 Jun 08
I think its not bad to tell little white lies to our children once in a while. Its not a lie that would hurt them but it would more likely to help them understand things and be disciplined.
My son is fond of eating sweets and it became his habit. i can't allow it because he has asthma and it can trigger it so i told him that if he keeps on eating sweets, ants would come after him because they like sweets very much.. Now, he still eats chocolates but not very often.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I hear you! Little kids live in a wonderful
fantasy world and understand fantastic stories
more than the hard truth. Sometimes us moms and dads
have to deal on their level and play their games to be
heard. Happy to meet another parent that agrees!
Be well.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
18 Jun 08
That is actully a good idea. One time when I watched my neice I asked her if she would help me to clean the mess she mad she said no. So i finally told her if she would help me clean that Dora from Dora the Explorer might come to see her. She helped me to clean up then. Thenshe wanted to know where Dora was. I told her I wasn't sure if she was coming I just siad she might come. I guess I was wrong to tell her a fib but I needed help to get some of the toys picked up.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
18 Jun 08
Oh, you sweeetie!
A big Dora sticker works for my little girl.
I got a big bunch of them when the Albertsons
was selling the Dora books for two dollars each
and came along with a big packet of Dora stickerrs.
I've used those Dora stickers for everything from
rewards to tantrum stoppers.
I gave her a Dora sticker for her new bike the other day
and she can't stop raving about it!
You can find Dora stickers online at:
http://www.stickergiant.com/kids_C_pg1
http://www.amazon.com/Rubies-Dora-Stickers/dp/B00073IBL0
http://www.strawberrycentral.com/en/item/index.cfm?MC=172&C=0&SC=0&ic=1706
Those are just a couple links I found.
Usually I give one sticker before the activity and then promise
two more when she helps me complete the task with me.
It usually works!
Be well.
Thanks for chatting with me today.
@DarkDancer (1011)
• Dayton, Ohio
18 Jun 08
Hmmm, I don't know, I don't have any children (at least none that are actually related to me (long story)), but it seems to me that it would be best not to tell the kids little white lies. Maybe just saying something like "Yes, you can have some cookies...after dinner." At least, that seems reasonable to me....
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I do that most times.
It was just one of those slip ups, that
came out and the instant it did, I regreted it.
But when she didn't ask for cookies again, I had to let it go.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Yes, I do tell my kids little white lies sometimes. I used to tell my son lies about his father. I used to make excuses for him not doing things that he says he is going to do. I stopped making excuses for him a long time ago though. I got old pretty quick.
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I understand! Sometimes it is necessary
to tell little white lies to spare our
children's hearts. They do not understand
the nature of adults and often try to see
the best in others.
@risris24 (712)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I'm not a parent but I think all parents tell little white lies at one point or another in their childrens lives. Every parent doesn't want to spoil the fact that there really isnt a Santa Claus or a tooth fairy or easter bunny. I think it is ok, as long as it isto protect your children but to a degree. What I mean is that as your children get older they will have to learn things on their own and even though you are their parent you should not tell little white lies anymore to protect them because what you may consider protection they may not and you do not want to ruin the trust in your relationship. There comes a point in a childs life where you should not lie to them, especially because the quicker they learn that life is far from perfect the better off they will be.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
19 Jun 08
lol my kids early years were packed full of white lies! Santa, tooth fairy, Easter Bunny, we are out of cookies, this tastes great, you get the picture.
@mummymo (23706)
•
19 Jun 08
I think all of us tell white lies - I mean where would we be without the easter bunny and the tooth fairy! As long as you are not doing anything harmful then I don't really see the big problem! At least if the white lies had to stop we would still have Santa Claus - we all know that he is real! xxx
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I've told my kids if they slam the fridge door too hard it will get stuck and we won't be able to get any food out of it, that works for me.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
19 Jun 08
Yes, sometimes there are some situations where I got to tell white lies, but now I'm totally avoiding telling lies whether be it white or not because it is still a lie and I know that I am committing a sin by doing so.
@flatlander (45)
• United States
19 Jun 08
If the lie has good intent, I'd say yes because children have become too inquisitive for many wrong reasons.You have to be a teacher, guide, and counselor at the least!! But I do admit, I can tell whopper stories to my grandkids!!!Are they lies?? I can thrill them,scare them, make them laugh, put questions in their heads,etc, but all for the better!!
