The Big Lie

   I keep coming back to a conversation I had with my bank teller about a year ago. Bill had an interesting theory, and he called it "The Big Lie". It isn't the one that Hitler told, but rather what we tell our kids. He says that we tell our kids to always tell the truth, but as adults, we don't want to hear the truth.

Your boss doesn't want to really hear what you think about his new idea. The sales clerk really doesn't want to hear how you are doing today. I could go on and on with these examples....but adults don't want to hear the truth.They want a reassuring lie. Politicians tell the voters what they want to hear....just like the Class President's campaign promise of a coke machine in every classroom.


We lie to our kids all the time....The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, and probably the biggest one of all...Santa Claus. I know that I lie to my kids, but still expect them to tell me the truth. The Big Lie.

I can remember my Dad telling me before going into a restaurant to tell them that I was six. I usually got a spanking for lying, he got a cheaper dinner bill.


I piggybacked onto that theory and included sharing and being fair. I hear my oldest tell me, "It's not fair". Life isn't fair, and can actually be quite cruel. When I had gum in elementary school, I used to hear, "Do you have enough for everyone?" The usual answer was, "No." We don't have to share when we are adults - this isn't a commune.

I love the honesty of children. "From the mouth of babes..."

Any Thoughts?

Keep Right On -K