www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygr
:: Why Kids Lie ::
PARENT: "Did you eat the banana that
I *told* you was for later?"
TODDLER: (with banana residue on face
and peel in hand) "No."
If children are innately good-natured, why do they
tell lies?
They lie *because* they're good-natured... and they're
doing their best to navigate the treacherous waters of
a "de-natured" culture.
The toddler is being good-natured when she honors her
hunger. It's not in her nature to believe in scarcity,
nor to override her Inner Guidance with arbitrary
limitations.
She's being good-natured when she meets her parent's
*expectation* of wanting the forbidden fruit.
She's being good-natured when she gives the answer
she believes the parent wants to hear. It's not in her
nature to invite disapproval and disconnection.
In other words, we inadvertently teach our kids to lie
when we participate in the Big Lie of our culture:
conditionality.
Next time your child lies to you, take it as a cue to
brush up on the Art of Unconditionality... and
appreciate your child's good nature. :-)
* See also: http://dailygroove.net/big-lie
Permalink: http://dailygroove.net/why
Feel free to forward this message to your friends!
(Please include this paragraph and everything above.)
Copyright (c) 2007 by Scott Noelle
No comments:
Post a Comment