My ten year old son has always suffered with developmental delays; you name it, he did it late. He pretty much survived off of baby food until he was four. ‘Nuff said.

Lately he’s been lying a lot. Actually, “a lot” doesn’t do it justice. Even though we have a rule in our house that you won’t get in trouble as long as you are honest, he has been tossing untruths around like they have wings. I am hoping this is a developmentally-delayed phase and not something we’ll have to deal with much longer.

I should stress that these lies are usually about nothing. Like, absolutely nothing. For instance:

Me: What was that noise?

Him: Well, I think I heard something…

Me: Just tell me the truth. What was the noise?

Him: Okay. I bounced a ball.

I finally grew completely weary of his games last night and he is entering his second full day of no video games, computer or television. As we sat at the dinner table I explained that we will tolerate a lot in this house, but dishonesty is not one of them; then I detailed his punishment.

When I finished I gave him a good, hard glare as if to ask, “Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”

And, he understood exactly what I was saying with that look because he replied, “I think it would be easier if I just went to live with a family of liars.”

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