Tuesday, May 16, 2006

don't be mad at me, but...

i told a lie last night. I never lie. Well, rarely. I don’t lie about important things. I like having a good reputation of being a trust worthy person. I value my reputation.

But this was too good to pass up.

Last night I gave my son half of a chicken sandwich from Starbuck’s for dinner. It was yummy on dark pumpernickel bread. As he started to eat the sandwich, a Subway sandwich commercial came on the tv. My son is a commercial addict. Anything he sees he asks if we can get it…allergy medicine, tree mulchers..anything.

“Momma! Can we get that?”

It really is pretty funny. I call him on it and he gives me a sheepish grin and he admits his weakness for the shinny promises commercials offer… “Pleeeeease? We need that.” He nods his head emphatically.

He looks dreamy eyed at the television screen, wishing for something as exciting as a Subway sandwich. I tell the lie, “Honey, that is a Subway sandwich on your plate.”

“It IS?! Oh, THANK YOU, momma!” He looks adoringly at the leftover as if it were gold.

8 comments:

Michael K. Althouse said...

I think, in the big picture, this barely qualifies as a lie. Things like "I did not have sex with that woman" or "Iraq has weapons of mass destruction" are lies. I don't see what harm of any consequence that could come from your boy thinking he ate a Subway sandwich. The chicken part was true, right?

It is, however, a very slippery slope. I mean what's next? Today its sandwiches, tomorrow it could be about global warming or Valerie Plame or Monica Lewinsky! Maybe it's best just to come clean... you never know where this kind of behavior could lead!
;-')

BTW, Thanks for the link!

~Mike

TheCleaningWoman said...

I'd call it being economical with the truth. If Subway sandwiches over there are anything like here, I'd say that's a healthy lie :)

Bree said...

I agree... I would hardly call this a lie. But I understand your feeling of guilt (because it's EXACTLY the way I would feel :-)

You could call it "economical" if it makes you feel better - it is saving you money not purchasing everything he sees on tv!!!

Ellen said...

Doesn't this qualify under the heading of "white lies".... you know the ones you tell people so you don't hurt their feelings, or put off the incessant begging from your kids you'd get otherwise.

mckay said...

i read somewhere that men lie to protect their image and women lie to protect their friends feelings.

i also read we lie much more often that we realize.

okay. that was a lie. i just made that up.

no i didn't.

Dave Morris said...

You are a shameless perveyor of terminological inexactitude.

I wouldn't lose much sleep over that one.

Greyhound Girl said...

When he is old enough to know the difference, he is gonna be so disappointed in a real Subway sandwich... :)

Jamie Dawn said...

You are going to hell!