[i_dont_chat]

I don't have children. I've helped with step-children.

ANd I am fascinated with your approach of not lying to your children. I've often thought of how confusing it is to the children. Our society (and parents) tell children there is a Santa, a tooth fairy, etc. etc., and the children believe it -- until they find out that it is isn't true.

Then we tell teenagers that smoking tobacco and pot is bad for them. And they see adults smoking with impunity, and we wonder why they don't take our "word" for it, how harmful smoking really is. Instead, they try it for themselves and get hooked, because they have learned that we don't always tell the truth.

Interesting.

[GrandEagle]

I get hammered quite a bit for it.
We still do the tooth fairy stuff, but they all know it is Mommy and Daddy. Make believe, I believe, is healthy for children - and they all have fun with it. My 2 year old rides a stick horse around the house - he knows it's not a real horse, but he has tons of fun making believe. We do the same thing with Santa, tooth fairy, etc.

I want (and so far it has been so), Daddy to be a place where you can go and get straight answers about anything you want to know about.
Granted, my oldest is only 11, so I know I've got a lot to learn yet. So far, anything they have something they have heard and want to know the truth, they will tell me "Dad, can we talk".

Cordially,
GE

[SF Republican]

learned that we don't always tell the truth with our kids we often mention there is difference in reality and fantasy, often using movies (Shrek - Pirates of the Carribian) as an example. My problem is how do people teach a kid not to hit, by hitting (spanking) them?

[Stone Mountain]

Then we tell teenagers that smoking tobacco and pot is bad for them. And they see adults smoking with impunity, and we wonder why they don't take our "word" for it, how harmful smoking really is. Instead, they try it for themselves and get hooked, because they have learned that we don't always tell the truth.

I see a lot of this. Hard drugs too. They tell kids if you try crack once, you'll get addicted and turn into a junkie. But they see people like Marion Barry who was able to be a mayor of a city while on the pipe. Not to mention a ton of people around their neighborhood who smoke crack and still appear functional. So if they find out that you don't really get hooked after trying it just once, and that all people who use it don't turn into street junkies, that basically everything they have heard about crack is bs and that they won't believe any of it. The truth about crack is bad enough - it's stupid to lie about it.