All your life, you're told not to lie. "Honesty is the best policy" and "Be truthful" are phrases you hear when you're a little kid learning the ways of the world. But as you get older, you realize there's a huge gray area with lies. You find yourself in situations where certain lies are acceptable, like lies to keep a friend's feelings from being hurt, lies to protect someone you love, and lies that are OK to tell your kids.
I know, everyone says you should be upfront and honest with your kids. And to a point, I agree. But in some instances, I think it does more damage to tell the truth to your children. When they wake up from a bad thunderstorm and cry to you that they are scared, is it better to say "Everything's going to be OK" or should you say, "I know, I've been watching The Weather Channel, we're probably going to have a tree fall on our house any minute?" You're supposed to protect your children and, sometimes, a lie is the best option for doing that. Of course, there are other lies, too. Lies that help you out as parents and lies that just make it easier to get through the day. These little white lies are OK to share with your kid, no matter your reasoning, and have been muttered by most moms and dads at some point in parenthood. You probably recognize a few from your own childhood. (By the way, Mom, I know that Chuck E. Cheese is open seven days a week now. You owe me some tickets.)