Parents should never lie to their children even if it is about a difficult subject such as death financial problems or divorce because It will cause the parent to tell more lies to keep the story going. there is a saying that goes, “what a web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” Each tiny lie may need additional lies to keep the painful truth from your child until you find yourself in a web of dishonesty that is very hard to get out of without causing more pain than you were first trying to protect your child from. Parents who teach their child that honesty is always the best policy should be modeling it to themselves as well.Eventually the child will find out the truth and discover that not only was the truth kept from his or her, but there was deception involved. Whether the truth comes out because the lies became too great or because he or she has simply gotten older and discovered the truth on his or her own, their relationship with you will be damaged. She will feel pain and disconnection from you. Though most pain and disconnection can eventually be repaired, it can take years to rebuild.It teaches the child that little lies are ok. This belief will eventually lead to the belief that bigger lies are also ok, until all truth is negotiable. When a child eventually discovers that mom and dad are frequently telling her small untruths here and there, she will learn to do the same. At first these lies will start out small, and may even seem “cute” to her parents. Unfortunately, soon these lies will begin to snowball, getting bigger and bigger. Eventually she will be lying about everything and believing she is doing no different than her parents.
