My son wants to play with the garden hose, but I don't want him to get wet as we're getting ready for dinner. "It's broken," I tell him.
He wants me to push him around the block in his red car, but the Laker's game is on... "Your car's broken," I insist - Adding, "We'll get it fixed tomorrow," for good measure.
Then he walks off, muttering "Fix it tomorrow" and I can get back to yelling at Kobe Bryant and his backup singers, err, players.
No matter what your kid wants to do, if you don't want him/her to do it, just figure out a way for that thing to be broken. Doesn't matter if it's an intangible concept - Two year-olds don't know that "Outside" can't be broken. As long as you sell it with a sense of conviction and, this is important, SYMPATHY, they'll take it at face value and move on.
I'm not sure how much longer this lie is gonna work, but I do know Son #2 will start falling for it in just a few short months and I can't wait.
"It's broken" may be the greatest lie you can tell a toddler - And I don't feel guilty for a second.
This knowledge is my gift to you.... Happy Father's Day!
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5 comments:
"It's broken" often works for big kids (adults) too.
Found you from Suzy's site and glad I followed the link.
I'm not sure it'll work on my wife though... She's seen me use it too many times. Thanks for finding me.
~TJ
It works for a while until they see you using the broken object the next day.
emmak,If they see you using a previously "broken" object, all you have to do is say you fixed it... Then it can break all over again at a later date and time.
Eventually, of course, your kids will pull a Harry Chapin on you.
"Hey, son, want to come over and visit me for a while?"
"Sorry, Dad, I can't. My car's broken. It'll probably be in the shop for the next, uh, year or so."
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