I lied to my young daughter to make life easier – and now she goes to bed on time and brushes her teeth twice a day.
A Texas mom reveals the lie she tells her daughter regularly helps her with everyday tasks like staying asleep
A mum has revealed all the casual lies she tells her daughter to do everyday chores – and she’s not alone.
Tatum, from Texas, is the mother of a stubborn toddler who previously refused to cut her nails, go to bed on time or brush her teeth twice a day.
It was hard for Tatum to get her daughter to listen to her — but then she started coming up with wild stories about the consequences of the child’s disobedience.
The mother told her daughter that she would ‘fly a bald eagle’ if she didn’t cut her nails, trolls would go in her mouth if she didn’t brush her teeth, and several other white lies to ‘make the day easier’.
‘They’re not big lies, they’re little white lies that help me do everyday things because my daughter makes everything really difficult,’ the mother said.
Tatum, Texas, mother of a stubborn toddler who previously refused to cut her nails, go to bed on time or brush her teeth twice a day
In a now-viral video, Tatum reveals the discrepancy between her ideal parenting style and reality.
‘Do you want to know something super embarrassing?’ he asked his audience.
‘Before I had my baby, I was one of those people who thought I could never lie to my baby. I thought it was bad parenting.
‘But now, I lie to my daughter every day – multiple times a day if necessary.’
The mother then reveals some ‘hilarious’ stories she made up.
‘I told him if he didn’t let me cut his nails, he would fly away as a bald eagle – he didn’t want that, so he let me cut his nails.’
He added, ‘I told him if he didn’t brush his teeth twice a day he was going to get a troll in his mouth. He is now brushing his teeth twice a day!
‘And if he doesn’t go to bed at night, the night monsters will come into his room and lick his toes – and now he goes to bed at half past nine.’
The mother argued that she was ‘lying’ for her child’s benefit.
‘I don’t know if it causes long-term damage, but I’m willing to pay for therapy,’ he said. ‘Sometimes, you have to lie to your kids. It’s not your fault they are innocent and believe.’
Tatum said the kids ‘will probably find out [the lies] fun’ when they grow up.
‘Parenting is hard,’ she added.
A mum has revealed all the casual lies she tells her daughter to do everyday chores – and she’s not alone
Hundreds more parents have revealed the ‘white lies’ they told their children.
‘I told my son that if he unbuckled his seatbelt, the police would be automatically notified and we would both be arrested,’ said one mother.
‘My kid thinks it’s illegal not to hold hands in the parking lot,’ wrote another. ‘He yelled at other children about jail time.’
‘I told my redhead daughter that carrots keep her hair red, and now she loves carrots!’ A third revelation.
Some adults shared the lies they grew up believing.
‘My dad told me the car wouldn’t start if I didn’t wear my seat belt. I believed him until I was 16!’ A man said.
Another added, ‘My dad told us the toy monster steals toys left on the floor. He went to great lengths to hide them when we let them go.’