Paper Tiger

It's easy to hoodwink yourself into believing you are in control when it is just yourself.  Then, you get married and it becomes painfully obvious to the both of you that you are no where near in control.  Then, you have kids and the clock starts ticking.  You have to maintain the illusion that you know what you are doing and are the world's leading authority on it.  To aid this smokescreen, I have made a decision to tell the truth as often as possible.  This has proved to be a good strategy as my kids are relentless in their methods and attempts to catch my wife and myself in an untruth (as if that would be some grat accomplishment).  White lies are out because in their eyes...a lie, is a lie.  One universal technique they employ is the ask both parents and compare the answers...in an effort to exploit any discrepencies.  I have known about this technique since I was a kid but am unsure of how I stumbled upon it.  Perhaps, it was Gilligan's Island or, Alf, or, Charles in Charge...whatever.  I'm sure my daughter probably learned it from Sponge Bob or, the ilk.  Regardless, the best defense (of course) is to be on the same page with your spouse.  This is easiest when you both tell the truth.  In extreme cases, when the truth is not an option (such as Santa Claus), both parties have to be on the same page.  Some form of conversation rehearsal can help.

 

I mention this because, the more that they catch you in an untruth, the more your stock falls.  I am thinking (and of course, this is just conjecture on my part - as I have never had kids before these two) that if I give them the straight dope and they can depend on that...then maybe, when I tell them that driving by brail or, bottle rocket wars are not such a good idea, it might actual hold water.  I don't know for sure because that strategy didn't always work out for me, growing up.  Then again, compared to my daughters, I was a complete bafoon.  Sometimes, I think there is less social Darwinism and more chance in our lives.  However, if we can minimize their exposure to the stupid (and potentially, lethal) rap that I was exposed to...then maybe, they'll turn out pretty good.  In which case, I can say 401k-schmore-O-1-K.