Then there were those who didn’t care if their parents lied to them and didn’t want total transparency.
I do not wish for my parents to be any more open and honest. In my life, my parents have never lied to me, they just have not told me things. I also do not wish for them to tell me because it might not be any of my business, and they will tell me when I am more mature. Furthermore, if I had children one day, I would do the same thing. I would not be able to handle it if they got hurt because of something I did tell them or didn’t tell them. Ultimately, this is why I do not wish to be completely candid.
— Shrinil, J.R. Masterman School, Philadelphia, PA
Yes, my parents have purposely lied to me. I think it was the right thing to do because it was to protect my own good and it was probably something that would have affected me at a young age. I don’t wish that they were honest with me because it would have definitely affected me.
— Marcos, Atrisco Heritage Academy High School
I don’t think any parent would lie to their kid unless it’s for a good reason or to save money. I feel many parents lie to their kids, saying they can’t get something or saying that they can’t go to an amusement park ride until a certain age. But parents don’t lie for no reason. And if they do, they will tell you when you’re older or when you’re ready to know.
— bello, texas
I genuinely don’t care if my mom lies to me; it is none of my business. Even if she did lie and I found out, I wouldn’t care because it would be irrelevant to me. What would I do with that information? I just don’t wanna be in adult conversations/business and I feel like it’s so boring.
— Brooklynn, J.R. Masterman School, Philadelphia, PA
Finally, a few told us about how little white lies had actually made their childhoods more fun and created lasting happy memories.
When I was in kindergarten and the lower grades of elementary school, my parents would lie to me when we went on trips. They wanted to keep it a surprise, presenting it as a gift! For example, they’d say things like, “Gabby, we are going to visit our relatives tomorrow. So make sure you pack your favorite puppy dolls! And don’t forget to wake up early! There might be traffic congestion, so we have to set off early.” Sometimes, they’d wake me up at dawn claiming we were going to the graveyard to pray to our ancestors. I was too young to suspect anything back then, so I believed it! But once we arrived, I realized we were actually at the airport, traveling abroad. Now, I think that was a great experience and gave me excitement and also enjoyment, and most importantly, there was a fun trick.
— Gabby, Seoul
