Little White Lies...

I was in the kitchen making lunch the other day and Madileigh desperately needed something to do. So I got out her paper and markers and let her sit and color... Until she started to color on my granite so then I gave her one of those Color Wonder Coloring Books.. its the kind with special paper on which a picture is revealed when you run the special marker across the pages. The beauty of these is that there’s no ink, no crayon, and therefore no chance that my wild child will, for example, make a masterpiece on my granite counter top, my tile floor or the grout; Which by the way, even “washable” crayons leave the evidence of that once composed beautiful work of art.

“She thinks she’s coloring, but she’s really not.” I thought to myself... I felt devious and it made me start thinking about all the little white lies I tell her throughout the day.

“The M&M’s are all gone.”

"If you eat chocolate for breakfast your teeth will turn brown and fall out!"

“You can have a snack if you eat your lunch first.”

“Sorry but that toy needs new batteries.” (I use this frequently.)

“We are all out of bubbles for the Pink bear bubble blower..” 

“After we pay for our groceries we will head back to the toy section.” (Lifesaver at Target)

"No baby you can't help Mommy put the wheels on the new stroller because it will make your fingers bleed."


And then there is the deceptions like the cookies that stay hidden and are brought out only after she goes to bed.

Truth be told, I think all these little white lies and deceptions make my life a little easier.

Do I want to be the painfully honest mom who says, “I’m too tired to take you to the park and have to deal with this horrible heat, the fact that you will not use a public restroom and have to chase you around while carrying your brother..” or do I want to be the mom who says, “We don’t have time for the park today – how about we cut up this big box and make a really cool fort to have a picnic in?”

Do I want to be the mom who says, “Coloring is an activity denied to you until the age of cooperation and understanding”, or do I want to be the mom who says, “Look what I have for you! It’s a special magic pen and special magic paper that only princesses can make a picture with!”

I suppose these little white lies have their purpose. It is cuter when kids go around announcing that they know they have to brush their teeth because they don't want their adult employment limited to being either a pirate or monster, rather than saying, "I have to brush my teeth so I don't suffer from periodontal disease and halitosis."

So yea… I guess I’ll take being the lying, pleasant mom any day.