Ah, lies. I thought I had more time up my sleeve before Ashleigh started learning this ancient art.
Sadly, no.
She’s now two, and the occasional fib sneaks into her conversational repertoire. But I’m noticing that she doesn’t always do it on purpose.
Sometimes, but not always.
Ashleigh’s lies usually fall into one of these categories:
The ‘I don’t know what you’re saying’ or ‘I have a different word for it’ lie
Friend: Do you want to put your tights on?
Ashleigh: No.
Friend: Are you sure? You got them out.
Ashleigh: No. No tights.
Me: Would you like to wear your sock pants, Ashleigh?
Ashleigh: Yes please mummy. Sock pants. No tights.
The ‘I can’t remember’ lie
Me: Did you have fun at swimming?
Ashleigh: Yeah.
Me: Did you sing ‘Humpty Dumpty’?
Ashleigh: Yeah, Humpty fall down.
Me: Humpty does fall down! Did you sing ‘Jelly on a plate’?
Ashleigh: Yeah.
Cameron: No we didn’t, Ashleigh. Not this week.
Ashleigh: No, no jelly plate. Croco snap.
Cameron: That’s right, we did crocodile snaps.
The white lie
Me: Ashleigh, that was naughty. Now go and say sorry to Bob.
Ashleigh: (sniff) Sorry Bob.
The ‘I want something (right now)’ lie
Me: Ashleigh, would you like some yoghurt?
Ashleigh: Yes please mummy.
Me: Did you wash your hands with daddy?
Ashleigh: Yes mummy. Yoghurt red one please.
Cameron: No you didn’t, Ashleigh. Come on, let’s wash your hands.
(Hand-washing rigmarole follows)
The big fat porky
Me: Are you picking your nose, Ashleigh?
Ashleigh: (with a finger in each nostril) No! Yucky!
Do these lies feature in your household? Do you have any categories to add to this list?
Haha! Theseare soooo true. We’re getting very similar fibs happening now, too. I think the confabulating/”I can’t remember” lie is the most common round here… I wonder if anyone would. Ltice if I just started to fill any memory gaps with make believe… Could be fun?!!
Good luck with that one! Ashleigh would definitely notice. Or she wouldn’t, but she’d notice when the answer was different the next time. Aaaargh!
My little one is at the exact same stage! Sometimes I stifle a giggle.. other times I feel a tad frustrated!
Ah, the world of the Toddler! Never, ever a dull moment!
I’ve definitely had to swallow my laughter a lot lately!
It gets harder to distinguish the truth from the lies as they get older … I’m sure our teens lie to us at times (hey, I was a teenager once too!)
I’m sure you never lied as a teenager! Nor did I! *sweet smile*
i did laugh at these! i love that there are different types you can distinguish though – sounds like there is never a dull moment!
Definitely not!
Oh there something so cute about those first lies. Until it becomes deliberate and defiant.
Love th nose picking one; my nephew was brilliant at that!
Oh yeah, Ashleigh learned very early on that fingers fit perfectly inside noses. Good work, sweetie.