Tall Tales

Lately, Bean has started telling “tall tales”. Fibs. Lies.

I’m guessing it has something to do with her age. Two year olds do weird stuff, man!

You’d think she’s my first child or something, though, because I honestly don’t know how to handle it. I’ve tried ignoring it. I thought maybe if she didn’t get some kind of reaction then she wouldn’t do it anymore. Didn’t work. I’ve tried telling her that what she’s saying isn’t true and it’s not nice to say things that aren’t true. I’ve tried to explain that she could hurt someone’s feelings by saying untrue things about them. I don’t know if she doesn’t “get” it, or if she doesn’t care. I think she doesn’t really get it. I’ve tried punishing her and putting her in time-out when she fibs about something her brothers did/didn’t do to her. Doesn’t stop her.

What do I do? I’m at a loss. I hope it’s just a phase and will pass soon.

Here are some examples of her fibs…..

- While walking in the park, she almost stepped in goose poop so Smarty nudged her over on the trail and politely told her to watch her step so she didn’t get something yucky on her sandals. I watched him do it and he was being kind and sweet to his sister. Bean’s response? ”He just punched me in the stomach!” He didn’t even touch her stomach! He barely touched her elbow. I told her that what she said wasn’t true but she insisted that it was. I made her apologize to Smarty and made her hold my hand for the rest of our walk to the car.

- The other day, we had spent the day hanging around the house. The only time I left the house was to walk to the mail box. When Hubby came home, he was talking to Bean and asking her about her day.

Hubby – “What did you do today?”

Bean – “We went to the swimming pool!”

Hubby (to me) – ”Did you guys go to the pool today?”

Me – ”No”

Bean – “Well, we did go to the park”

Hubby – ”How fun!”

Me – “We didn’t go to the park.”

Bean – ”We went to the grocery store too.”

Me – “We didn’t leave the house today!”

Bean – “Yes we did.”

- A few nights ago, Hubby, Beanie, and I were laying on our bed talking. Bean says, “We are going to move to a new house.” Hubby agrees with her that, yes, we are going to move to a new house if and when this house ever sells. She says, “No me and mommy are moving to a new house without you.” Hubby looks at me all confused and says “What’s she talking about?” Poor guy, I had to reassure him that I wasn’t planning on leaving him.

It didn’t help matters that the next night, when Hubby was asking Bean about her day she said “We went to see Granny & Pappy today.” My parents live over and hour away and we hadn’t gone to see them. Again, I let Hubby know she wasn’t telling the truth. She says “Me and mommy are going to go live with Granny & Pappy.” Again, not true and I told Hubby so. He played along with her and asked “Just you and Mommy? What about me?” She says, very bluntly, “No, we are moving with Granny & Pappy and you have to stay here by yourself.” So now poor Hubby thinks I’m planning to leave him.

I seriously don’t know where she comes up with this stuff!

Please tell me this is just a phase and she will outgrow it soon!