DANIEL'S FIRST LIE

For weeks I have been thinking about lying. I knew it would start soon and I wanted to figure out how I would handle it. Since I am a first-time mom, I figured that I could reassure him that I won't be as mad if you tell the truth and then that would be enough for him to not lie a lot. Yeah, right! I doubt that works. Next plan.

I walked downstairs into the kitchen and noticed Daniel had some white stuff on his hands and face and saw the butter on the counter with 3 fingerprints in it. I asked him if he ate the butter. He looked me in the eye and said, "no." I gave him another chance. I told him I wouldn't be mad if he told the truth and he said, "no." I told him to go sit in time out. Now, while he was sitting there I was in the kitchen chuckling to myself very quietly and thinking that this is it. Game Time!! What was I going to do. Now, him eating butter doesn't bother me. In my family it is a delicacy. But, the lying does. So I went to the couch and asked him again if he ate the butter. Once again he said, "no." I explained what lying is and that we need to tell the truth and asked him again. Still, "no."

At this point I told him that I wasn't mad but was sad and disappointed that he lied to me. (GUILT) It didn't work. I asked him once again, still "no."

What to do, what to do? OK, this time I told him that he had to sit in time out until he told me the truth and I walked into the kitchen. The next thing I know he is shouting to me, "I'LL TELL THE TRUTH, I'LL TELL THE TRUTH!" So, I go back to the couch and ask him again. Still, "no." I go back to the kitchen and he yells the same thing again so I go to the couch and reassure him that I'm not mad but it is important to tell the truth. "Daniel, did you eat the butter?" "Yes"

I gave him a hug and kiss and told him that we need to tell the truth. And he went on his way and started playing.