"LisaBell" wrote in message
...
A few weeks ago, at a parents meeting at DD2's preschool, one of the
staff told a parent a cute anecdote about walking on an errand with
her son. The boy had said it was a long way, and the staff member had
told him not to worry, since the way back would be shorter. She added,
with great amusement, that now whenever they went on their weekly walk
to the woods, this boy would pipe up that it will be shorter on the
way back.

I was quite disturbed by this story. I would never deliberately feed
my child patently false scientific information; too me it is a matter
of integrity and dependability. Is this because I am out of touch
with my inner child ?

I will admit I am far from a fantasy enthusiast (right now DH is in
the other room watching LOTR for the third time, by himself), nor am I
a religious believer, so I am repeatedly uneasy when DD1 asks whether
fairies exist, and what about angels... elves... spirits... heaven?
What am I supposed to tell her?

I tried to dodge it when she asked if there was really a tooth fairy
(she hasn't yet lost a tooth, but is dying to), and asked her what she
thought. She said she thought there was no fairy and it was the
parents who put money in place of the tooth. Then she *insisted* on
knowing if she was right. Put on the spot, I admitted there was no
fairy, nor elves, and I'd never seen an angel. Am I spoiling things
for her?

--Lisa bell
Mom to Gabriella (6.5) and Michaela (almost 5)


I don't think you're necessarily spoiling things for her. You're just
handling things the way you feel most comfortable. My brother's children
have always known that there is no Santa Claus (and not to tell other
children this) while my sister's children believed in Santa Claus for quite
a while and were reluctant to give it up. I never thought who was right -
it was obvious the parents did what they thought would work best for
themselves and the kids.

As for telling the boy it was shorter on the way back. I'm not sure I would
have responded the same, but I can see why a parent would say that. It's
not harming the child and I think the parent may have meant the walk back
would seem shorter. Often when DD asks really really hard questions (to me)
and I haven't a clue what the answer is, I'll make up a story to explain
things (e.g., why can we see through glass but not metal?). She very
quickly realized that if she wanted the "real" answer she needs to ask DH
(he actually knows these things) and if she wants the "fun" answer she asks
me.

Jeanne