Sometimes my kids wonder if I’m always being honest with them as we’ve tried to instil the truth is your friend philosophy in our house.

Aside from forgivable topics involving Santa, the Tooth Fairy or where babies come from, I would like to think we do our best to be honest with our kids. Of course the “if you have to lie, lie next to the one you love” nonsense doesn’t count.

I have found myself saying, “I can’t help you unless you tell me the truth,” or some less understanding variation with an angry, impatient inflection in my voice.

Yesterday Hanna asked me a few simple questions about whether I am always honest with her as I have claimed and therefore must be recorded on some gadget in or around this house. She was trying to back me into a corner of truth and I was ready to play.

H: Mom, were you lying when you said you were proud of me after the swim meet?

Me:  Lying? Hanna, I was so proud of you after the swim meet for three important reasons. The first was that you participated. The second was that you tried your best. The third and slightly less important was that you won one of your races.

H: Were you lying when you said you were proud of my report card?

Me: I read you the report card. Your teacher said some pretty wonderful things about you as a person and your performance in class. For that and many other reasons, I am proud of you.

H: Were you lying when you told one of the Moms in the school parking lot you would kill Daddy if he went away for work overnight again anytime soon?

Me: Yes, I was lying.

Wink.