Little Lies I Tell My Toddlers Without a Trace of Guilt

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Before I became a mom, I swore I would never lie to my children. I believed in teaching them the value of honesty and how to cope with disappointment. I thought, “How can they trust me if I’m not truthful?” I even had the no-TV, anti-sugar stance down pat while my twins were babies. Fast forward to now, with two nearly 3-year-olds, and my world looks a lot different. Television is now my trusty co-parent, and I’m all for using chocolate chips as bargaining chips.

And yes, I tell them little white lies all the time—sorry not sorry!

I know it’s not the best approach, but once I discovered how much simpler life could be with a few harmless fibs, I embraced them wholeheartedly. Here are some of my favorites:

1. It’s Broken
   This classic line is a lifesaver. When they’re begging to watch another episode of their favorite show while I’m trying to get everyone ready, I simply say, “Oh no, the TV’s broken!” Want to press all the buttons on the phone? “Oops, the phone isn’t working!” Climbing on the kitchen counter? “Sorry, the faucet’s broken!” Sometimes I muster the energy to tell the truth and deal with the inevitable meltdown, but on those tough days? A lot of things just happen to be mysteriously out of order.
2. It’s Coffee
   When it comes to coffee, I’m serious. My twins quickly learned that coffee is hot and off-limits for them. So now, iced tea? It’s coffee. Diet soda? Definitely coffee. That glass of wine? Yep, it’s also coffee. Anything I don’t want them to touch? Coffee. They might eventually figure out that no one can possibly drink that much coffee, but for now, it works wonders.
3. I’m Working
   As a writer, my laptop is my office, but I do more than just work on it. I also scroll through social media and read totally irrelevant news. So whenever my daughter asks, “Are you working, Mom?” I reply with a confident, “Of course! Important stuff!” Can you check back in a few?
4. The Dog Wants You To
   Having a dog is like having a secret weapon. My kids adore our furry friend, so I’ve cleverly turned that to my advantage. “Let’s go to your room—Penny wants to tuck you in for a nap!” Or, “Penny says it’s time to change your diaper!” They might not always listen to me, but they sure listen to her.
5. It’s Medicine
   Recently, my kids have decided that medicine is the worst thing ever. So, I’ve started labeling things I want them to avoid as “medicine.” That box of treats? “Oh, that’s medicine!” That fancy chocolate I bought? “Yep, just medicine.” I guess it does help with my own PMS, so it’s not a total lie!

I know that telling these little fibs might not earn me any “Mom of the Year” awards, but you know what? Sometimes you just have to do what works to make it through the day without feeling guilty.

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In summary, parenting can be a wild ride, and while honesty is important, a little creativity in the form of harmless lies can make things a lot smoother. Embrace the chaos and do what works for you!