lying

in regards to our lovely children, lying has become an epidemic in our household. both of our offspring have become infected with the lying bug that has been running rampant in our house. lets explore...

earlier in the week, jj got into trouble at school and i found out by a phone call home from his 1st grade teacher. he didnt say a word about it even when i asked him, "did anything happen today?" i decided to wait until jesse got home to inform him about the phone call conversation and what happened. again, jj said everything was fine and that nothing special happened. then he told him that his teacher called and talked to us. then he finally fessed up to the incident. he was talked to about making smart choices and then punished.

the very next morning, i told him to apologize to his teacher BEFORE school starts. i specifically told him to find his teacher BEFORE school starts and talk to her, then he could go to the playground and play. he says, "sure mama, got it!"

later that afternoon, i pick him up from school and ask him if he apologized to his teacher. he says, "yes". then i ask him exactly how the conversation went. he tells me:

jj: im sorry mrs. s for what happened yesterday.

mrs. s: thats ok jj, just dont let it happen again.

so i believe him. subject dropped. well then when dada comes home their conversation goes like this:

dada: "did you apologize?"

jj: "yes"

dada: "what did you say?"

jj: "i apologized and then she said it was ok and then i went and played"

dada: "are you sure?"

jj: "yes"

dada: "if we call mrs. s, what will she tell us?"

jj: *sigh* "ok...i forgot"

SERIOUSLY!!!!! this coming from the boy who just got into major trouble the night before. i couldnt believe it. he didnt just lie, he made up a full on story!!!!

now he is punished again! incredible. the next morning, i walked him all the way to his classroom and physically watched him apologize to his teacher. he was so mortified that i would even walk with him onto the school campus. i even tried to hold his hand as we walked across a crosswalk, and he pulled his hand away out of embarrassment. *sniff*sniff*wipe tear*

i think he has learned his lesson! hopefully...

next story:

yesterday, we told ellie to pick up all the shoes that have been accumulating down stairs and put them where they belong. it was about 7 pairs of shoes. she made several trips up and down the stairs and said it was done. later at nap time jesse discovers that instead of putting each pair in their own closet, she threw them all into a big pile in the middle of her room.

when she woke up, we ate dinner and then we told her to pick up the shoes and really put them away. so she goes upstairs for awhile and comes down later.

mama: "did you put away the shoes?"

ellie: "mmm hmmmm" (while nodding her head up and down)

mama: "if i go up there and check will they be put away?" (as i act like i am getting up)

ellie: "wait mama...dont check my room!" (then immediately sprints up the stairs)

REALLY?!! she is only 3! where did she learn this lying thing. i guess its just going around like the flu.

craziness.