As a child, the instinct to lie often stems from not wanting to get into trouble. They’ve done something wrong, and they don’t want anyone to know. But why hide it? Likely because deep down, they know they shouldn’t have done it in the first place. If they know this, then why go ahead and do it?
Children love to test boundaries. They want to see what they can get away with, while as parents, we just want to make sure they’re safe. But sometimes, we need to step back and let them make mistakes. Let them experience the consequences of their actions so they can learn the value of doing what they’re told and so we can say, “I told you so.”
But here’s the real question: Is lying a natural part of growing up, or is it something we, as parents, have taught them?
Think about the small things. When we’re upset, we might tell them there’s nothing wrong, even when we’re crying or slamming doors. We might brush off their questions about someone or something they clearly saw.
What have we done by doing this? How can we scold them for lying when we’ve shown them how? Have they learned this behaviour from us, or from society?
The more we let them get away with lies, the less they’ll feel the weight of it. And that’s the problem we need to address as parents.
Real Talk: Diary of a Seriously Fcked Off Parent 