Believe it or not, when I was a kid I’d sometimes tell stories that didn’t represent the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. As a result, when my mother found out that I’d had not brushed my teeth she would threaten to wash my mouth with soap. Now to tell the truth my mother never washed my mouth out with soap but she did several times with my younger brother. He claimed if I had gotten my mouth washed out with soap that Ivory tastes better than Lifebuoy, Lifebuoy better than Dial, Dial has overtones of citrus and industrial chemicals, Irish Spring was “Manly, yes . . .” but he didn’t like it, and Lava had the flavor you'd expect of toxic waste and was abrasive enough to sand all the taste buds off your tongue.
So, you can imagine my frustration when I figured out later in life that my mother didn’t always tell the truth either. “It was for your own good kids.” That was her justification. “It wasn’t really a lie; it was just a little fib.”
That’s why it was okay for her to tell me I was going to have my face stuck that way if I frowned!
It was for my own good that she told me I was the best looking girl in my fifth grade class.
“But David Glilman said I have crooked teeth, freckles, beady eyes and thick glasses. She would always say in a few years you’ll grow into that look and all the boys will be fighting over you.”
Turns out there wasn’t a lot of fighting going on when I got to high school. Thank goodness I met Carl, who had also, over the years, I am sure taken in a one-eyed dog, a three-legged cat with the mange, and maybe three blind mice
I not sure I ever grew into my looks. lol! My mother had fibbed.
In my mother’s defense, I’ve discovered that she’s not the only child-rearing woman prone to distortion of the facts. I’ve heard myself told some whoppers to our young ones over the years.
As luck would have it, my kids took after their father and I didn’t have to convince them they'd grow into their looks; but they were certain of the existence of the Easter Bunny and the old man in the white beard and red suit until it was put it all came together one day when the truth was leaked about the Tooth Fairy. Sarah lost her first tooth and Elizabeth could not contain herself about the Santa and all was revealed!
So, now that I’m grown with kids & grandkids of my own, I understand why, at times, my Mom lied to me. It’s just like the time I told her I didn't see my sister kiss the neighbor boy at her New Year's eve party. It was for her own good and it wasn’t really a lie . . . just a little fib.
Oh well... Another Day's Musings...
Nana
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