The good lies
Growing up we were all taught that lying was wrong....okay, so maybe it actually is, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't stop us parents from doing it anyways.
As the holidays approach, I can't help but think about all the "good" lies we tell our children for one reason or another. I mean.....Santa Clause. He's fat and jolly and brings you tons of gifts. All you have to do is listen to mommy and daddy...kind of. We lie to our kids all the time to get them to do things we need them to do. "Go to sleep without fighting or I'm gonna text Santa to put you on the naughty list"...."get out of the car and come inside or the spiders will eat your feet"...."eat your veggies or you are never getting dessert again".... "play nicely with your sisters or I'm cancelling your birthday this year." We all have our own lies, but one thing I know for sure, we all do it! It's like a reflex.
Let's be honest, lying is sometimes.... easier. When I tell my girls to get out of the car when we get home, they think it's funny to stay there. Laughing at me. Taunting me. I try and convince them to get out, but my efforts almost always fail. But, as soon as I tell them that the spiders are gonna eat their feet, they run inside. They don't mess around. See what I'm saying? Win!
We play at the park all the time, but I when I say it's time to go, do they gladly walk away from the fun? Absolutely not. They run up to the top of the slide like someone is chasing them. Then friends, I tell them I'm leaving them and walk away. Okay, so someday they are actually gonna call me on my bluff, but for now? NOPE. They run to the car. They even say sorry sometimes for not coming in the first place. Yup, I hold the power.
I'm not here to condone lying. I'm also not here to make you feel bad for the good ones. Because there are good lies. I'm also here to admit that parenting is freaking tough! Sometimes as parents we do try our best to get them to listen, but we are constantly begging the question if they're actually deaf or if that really is just their inability to listen. Maybe someday our kids grow up and listen well. Maybe they'll forever pretend we're not even talking until a stupid lie slips out of our mouths. Who knows! I do love my kiddos!
They're sweet.
They're goofy.
They're hilarious.
They're beautiful.
And they're terrible at listening.
We win some. We lose some. And we take them just the way they are!!!
