when i think about my relationship with mimi, my biggest fear is that she will lie to me one day about something big. or rather keep the truth from me. so when i found out mimi learned about george washington and abraham lincoln at school in february (around president's day), i lept on the chance to talk about how important it is to tell the truth.
i read somewhere where kids who were told a story of kids getting REWARDED for telling the truth and not in trouble were later more likely to tell the truth. so i went on and on about how george washington's dad was so happy and proud of george for bravely telling the truth about cutting down the apple tree. and that it was the right thing to do and that george's dad could always trust george because george wouldnt lie to him. so basically made this whole to do about how important it is to tell the truth.
about a month later, rob decides to take mimi skiing on a school day. a one day trip, go in the morning and leave by dinner time. mimi had been sick (throwing up) anyway, so i didnt feel too bad about her not going to school that day, but i did tell her, mimi, dont go to school and tell everyone you were out skiing instead of at school. why? she wants to know. i dont think your teacher will be happy about it and i dont want to upset her.
but didnt you tell me i should always tell the truth?
what could i say? you can lie to everyone else but you should always tell me the truth? that you should lie to spare people hurt feelings? i was completely stumped at this point. i wasnt sure how to explain this to her, so i said, well, just dont talk about going skiing to your teacher when you get to school. if she asks just tell her you were sick, that's the truth, you really were sick. she nodded quietly.
when i picked her up from school, just to check i asked her if anyone asked her where she was? she said yes, the teacher's aide asked her and she told her she went skiing, but then she adds, "but dont worry, mom. i told her not to tell my teacher."
i read somewhere where kids who were told a story of kids getting REWARDED for telling the truth and not in trouble were later more likely to tell the truth. so i went on and on about how george washington's dad was so happy and proud of george for bravely telling the truth about cutting down the apple tree. and that it was the right thing to do and that george's dad could always trust george because george wouldnt lie to him. so basically made this whole to do about how important it is to tell the truth.
about a month later, rob decides to take mimi skiing on a school day. a one day trip, go in the morning and leave by dinner time. mimi had been sick (throwing up) anyway, so i didnt feel too bad about her not going to school that day, but i did tell her, mimi, dont go to school and tell everyone you were out skiing instead of at school. why? she wants to know. i dont think your teacher will be happy about it and i dont want to upset her.
but didnt you tell me i should always tell the truth?
what could i say? you can lie to everyone else but you should always tell me the truth? that you should lie to spare people hurt feelings? i was completely stumped at this point. i wasnt sure how to explain this to her, so i said, well, just dont talk about going skiing to your teacher when you get to school. if she asks just tell her you were sick, that's the truth, you really were sick. she nodded quietly.
when i picked her up from school, just to check i asked her if anyone asked her where she was? she said yes, the teacher's aide asked her and she told her she went skiing, but then she adds, "but dont worry, mom. i told her not to tell my teacher."
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