Busted

I busted Maddy in a big fat lie tonight. She went downstairs by herself and moved a stool to the cabinet near the cups so she could help herself to water. That's a no-no. It's not safe. I followed her downstairs a few moments later and found the stool in the alleged location with child standing nearby. I asked her about it and she said she didn't do it. I called upstairs to Marc to see if he did it. He did not. Since I didn't do it, and Marc didn't do it, that leaves on human being in the house who could do it. Maddy started crying and crying and saying over and over that she didn't do it. I had a long talk with her about lying and trust and how we would always be much more upset over the lie versus what she was covering up. I asked her again after a 4 minute time out if she did it, and she thought that maybe she had and that she forgot about it.  We all hugged. I had to turn around a few times during the time out to keep from laughing, it was such a typical childhood moment. I think we handled it well. I think the message got through. As we returned to normal activity after this episode I whispered to Marc that we lie to Maddy ALL the time. We lie to keep her safe, to protect her, to simplify things, to get things done, not to mention Santa, Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy. Good grief. We lie all the time, don't we? I am beginning to think there really is a good lie and a bad lie. Her lie tonight was a bad lie. Santa is a good lie. Yes? No?