Yesterday, I went to Upland to help my aunt & uncle move. They have lived in this house on 7th street for more than 40 years! So obviously, my entire life, they have lived in that house. When I walked in and saw it so bare, it was weird. I started remembering family holidays, the time my aunt tried to teach me to make pie crust, the tamale making parties, etc.
My favorite memory in that house, and maybe my favorite memory with my aunt (aka Darling Precious Auntie Ruth) is of Magic String.
When I was little, I remember staying with Auntie when one of my teeth was loose. It was at that stage where it's just dangling and just about ready to come out. It must have been bothering me, or I was excited for the Tooth Fairy to come, so Auntie suggested that we try Magic String.
What is Magic String you may ask? Well, it was this mystical string that you could tie around your tooth and it would make the tooth fall out. It all sounded fascinating and I'm sure I believed every word of it. It wasn't until years later that I realized that Magic String was actually dental floss. And the way it made your tooth fall out was by one end being tied around your tooth, the other end on the door knob...and SLAM...the tooth falls out!
Why do we tell such lies to children?
4 comments:
Well, Laura I think that the lie was a good idea. You somehow managed to escape childhood thinking that that was pretty special. My mom would say nothing of 'magic string' but would simply insist that we yank it out! I never looked forward to losing teeth. The Tooth Fairy wasn't generous enough at our house I guess. I would have preferred a pretty lie!
Oh, things we tell kids! I'm glad we do.
Yes, technically it's lying, but it does make life seem much more magical and exciting.
Real life is a dud.
My first thought is you already have your journaling for a scrapbook page. You make the most simple things seem so much more interesting with the way you present it.
Anyway, on to lying to our children. How joyous is it to be a kid and wake up in eager anticipation of what either Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny has brought you. I'm all game for a lie that makes a child feel better about something or brings much pleasure. -Krista
I agree--lie to the kids to protect them from the harshness that is reality! ...There's pleanty of time for them to learn the truth. Children always hate their parents for something, so they might as well hate you for making their childhood magical and exciting!
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