Truth

"Myles did you just hit your brother?"
"No mommy"
"Myles are are telling the truth?"
"No mommy"

We try and teach our children the meaning of truth from the beginning. We make sure to praise when the truth has been told and scold when you know its a lie. As a mom to a 3 year old, I have a had some moments where I knew that Myles was telling a lie because the evidence was right there in front of me. And when I would ask him about it, the innocence in him would allow him to tell me truth and correct his lie.

Truth is factual. It gives everyone involved and accurate account of what is happening, how someone feels, or how they are doing. Some things are THE truth. And them somethings are YOUR truth. I often find the conflict between the two when someone tries to make THEIR truth into THE truth. I could spend hours upon hours writing and explaining what the difference means to me, but I won't. I will say that sometimes we have to accept people for who their are, THEIR truth. I accept that I can be selfish, that's my truth, not the truth. I accept that I can be kind, my truth. It would be wrong for me to argue that my truth is THE truth. Some people may not see me as selfish or as kind.

When talking about telling the truth, everyone needs to find out what that means to them. I know for me, telling the truth means that what you are going to tell me is going to be a factual account as to what is going on. I also know that in order for the truth to be fully told everyone who is involved must know this truth. No one can be left in the dark. If someone is left in the dark then their truth, is indeed a lie. Complicated I know.

I will continue to raise my children to tell the factual truth. But Id also like to know their truth. How they see the world, how they view things. THE truth is as important as THEIR truth.

"Myles did you feel like hitting your brother is wrong?"
"No?"
"Why not?"
"Because I was just playing, no hurt, just play"

That's his truth.