Being truthful

I listen to audio books when I go to bed at night. It often takes me awhile to get to sleep so instead of tossing and turning, I let someone read to me until I drift off. The next night I move the CD's around to pick up where I left off. This week I've been listening to the latest NPR (National Public Radio) audio book of the program This I Believe. Listeners from all parts of America have submitted essays that tell of their beliefs, what holds meaning for them. Selected essays are read by the authors. It's enlightening to hear people tell about what's important to them. It makes me think about my own values. 

Being truthful is important to me. Husbands and boyfriends have lied to me so much that it goes right through me when anyone tells me something I know to be less than the truth. Kids tend to stretch the truth and it may be a passing phase, something that kids just try, or it may be something they're learning from the adults around them. 

When bad things happen we want to protect our children from it. Is that the best thing to do? If kids are old enough to hear the truth, should we hide it because it's unpleasant? The essay Telling Kids the Whole Truth by Martha Leathe is about being truthful with kids, even when it involves the tough stuff that we would rather leave till another time. Click on the title above to listen to the essay.