Why Do Parents Lie?
by fishfry aka Elizabeth Figueroa on Apr 12, 2009 with 2 Comments
A question a child ponders about Christmas, The Easter Bunny and The Tooth Fairy. How would you respond?
Kids are funny you can raise two of them in the same house and never know they are siblings. Have a classroom full of children and have twenty-five different personalities, or two who are so alike that come from different backgrounds. One will be easy going and take everything with a “grain of salt” and enjoys them self; while other children, questions everything and are not very happy when mislead in any way. What do you mean you ask?
Well why do parents lie, is the question I was asked by one of my children. I inquired, and wanted to know what was the reason for asking such a question. The response was very basic, and true; we lie about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and; of course my favorite the Tooth Fairy. Not knowing how to answer this question I asked if it upset them; yes was the response, since lies are not nice and parents seem to lie about these things all the time.
After listening to the response, I realized it was time for the truth, and as I explained that Santa Claus lives within our heart, where we learn to give and receive. The Easter Bunny is a representation of new beginning for you and I alike; such is the case of Spring-time, its when everything becomes new again. Well the tooth fairy is just someone who would make loosing teeth not so scary, since we all are suppose to lose our baby teeth. If there is a reward to loosing your little teeth, it makes it a little less painful.
So with a very basic explanation, the child was satisfied. Then he said to me as he walked away; it is just a way for parents to make little children happy. I replied yes, and left it at that.
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Published in: Family
Nemo | Apr 28, 2009 | Reply
Your answer side-steps the question. You talk about what Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny represent, but that does not answer the question of why parents lie. You hint at it better with the Tooth Fairy example.
Also, your answer is not truthful. “Santa Claus lives in our hearts”? What kind of an answer is that? That answer is way too fluffy.
The kid seemed to get it at the end, although he doesn’t suspect any negativity. Some parents lie to their kids because it is amusing. Some do it as an abuse of power — they know their kids will believe whatever they say. And even if it was just “to make little children happy”, is that better than knowing the truth? How will the kid feel when he does find out the truth, only to find it more painful that it was dragged out for so long and that his parents lied to him? And if he never finds out the truth, do the parents feel any remorse knowing that they’ve betrayed the trust of a loved one?
Bec S | Aug 2, 2009 | Reply
Well I beleved in Santa. A few Months ago… Untill today I was looking in my parants wardrobe a I saw the same wraping paper as ” Santa ” uses in my stocking. I asked If santa was real? There was a long pause……. When there was a long pause from my dad I knew he had been lying for over 11 and a half years. And I found it funny the carrots that I leave for the reindeers leave a few pieces with human teeth marks!!!!