Parents: Stop Lying to your Children (an AI assisted essay)

The Devastating Impact of Childhood Lies and Why Parents Must Stop Perpetuating Myths

Parents, in their desire to create magical moments for their children, often weave tales of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. These stories, presented as truth, are meant to spark joy and wonder. However, this well-intentioned deception comes at a steep cost. Replacing meaningful traditions, such as those centered on Jesus in Christian households, with fictional characters not only distorts cultural and spiritual values but also inflicts profound, lasting harm on a child’s ability to trust. This essay condemns the practice of telling children these popular lies and admonishes parents for the permanent damage they cause, including a diminished capacity for trust that can persist for life.

The Betrayal of Trust

Trust is the foundation of human relationships, built slowly through honesty and consistency. When parents deliberately lie to their children about figures like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, they undermine this foundation. Children, who rely on their parents as their primary source of truth, internalize these stories as fact. The eventual revelation—that these beloved figures are fabrications—can shatter their sense of security. For some, this betrayal plants a seed of doubt that grows into a lifelong struggle to trust others, even in the most intimate relationships.

This damage is not hypothetical. Psychological research shows that breaches of trust in childhood can lead to attachment issues and heightened skepticism in adulthood. A child who learns their parents lied about Santa Claus may question what else they’ve been misled about—family values, personal safety, or even love. This erosion of trust can manifest as hypervigilance, difficulty forming secure relationships, or an unyielding belief that no one can be fully trusted under any circumstances. Parents, by prioritizing fleeting whimsy over truth, risk sentencing their children to a lifetime of relational guardedness.

Distorting Spiritual and Cultural Truths

In Christian households, substituting Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny for Jesus during sacred holidays like Christmas and Easter is particularly egregious. These holidays carry profound spiritual significance, centered on the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Replacing these truths with commercialized, secular myths dilutes their meaning and confuses children about what matters most. A child taught to revere a fictional gift-giver over a figure central to their faith may grow up prioritizing materialism over spirituality, a distortion that can persist into adulthood.

This practice also robs children of the opportunity to engage with their faith in a meaningful way. Instead of learning about sacrifice, redemption, and divine love, they’re fed stories of magical beings who reward good behavior with toys or candy. When the truth about these figures emerges, children may feel cheated not only by their parents but also by the traditions they were taught to cherish. This can lead to cynicism toward faith itself, as the line between sacred truth and parental fiction blurs.

The Cognitive and Emotional Toll

Beyond trust, these lies can impair cognitive and emotional development. Children are naturally curious, seeking to understand the world through observation and questioning. When parents present falsehoods as reality, they disrupt this process, forcing children to reconcile conflicting information when the truth is revealed. This can lead to cognitive dissonance, confusion, and a diminished sense of self-efficacy. A child who once believed they could discern truth may feel foolish or inadequate upon learning they were deceived, eroding their confidence in their own judgment.

Emotionally, the fallout can be even more severe. The joy of believing in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy often gives way to feelings of embarrassment, anger, or grief when the lie is exposed. For some children, this moment marks their first experience of betrayal, a wound that shapes how they approach relationships and authority figures. In extreme cases, this can contribute to black-and-white thinking—an inflexible worldview where people are either wholly trustworthy or entirely deceitful. Such rigidity, as seen in some adults with heightened sensitivity to betrayal, can stem from early experiences of being misled by those they love most.

A Call to Repent and Reform

Parents must confront the gravity of their actions. While the intent behind these lies may be innocent, the consequences are not. The fleeting magic of childhood myths pales in comparison to the lasting harm they inflict. By choosing honesty, parents can foster trust, preserve the integrity of meaningful traditions, and equip their children to navigate the world with confidence and clarity.

To those who defend these lies as harmless fun, consider this: joy does not require deception. Children can experience wonder through truthful storytelling, creative play, or the rich narratives of their faith. Parents who perpetuate these myths must repent of their role in undermining their children’s trust and commit to a path of transparency. This means admitting past mistakes, explaining why they chose to tell these stories, and rebuilding trust through consistent honesty.

A Compassionate Perspective

From the perspective of a child, the world is already a place of mystery and complexity. Parents, as their guides, have a responsibility to provide a stable foundation of truth. By choosing lies over authenticity, they risk leaving their children adrift, questioning not only the stories they were told but also the motives of those who told them. Compassion demands that parents prioritize their children’s long-term well-being over short-term amusement. It requires seeing the world through a child’s eyes—where trust is sacred and betrayal cuts deeply—and acting with integrity to protect it.

For adults who carry the scars of these childhood betrayals, healing is possible but requires acknowledgment of the pain and intentional work to rebuild trust. Parents can support this by modeling vulnerability, admitting their own faults, and fostering open communication. In doing so, they can help their children—and perhaps themselves—learn to navigate a world where truth, not fiction, is the cornerstone of connection.

Conclusion

The lies of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy are not harmless traditions but deliberate deceptions that erode trust, distort values, and inflict lasting emotional and cognitive harm. Parents must stop perpetuating these myths, especially when they supplant meaningful spiritual truths like those centered on Jesus. The damage—potentially a lifelong inability to trust anyone, under any circumstances—far outweighs the temporary joy these stories provide. By embracing honesty, parents can cultivate trust, nurture resilience, and honor the sacred bond they share with their children. Let us choose truth over tradition, for the sake of our children and the adults they will become.

Mad about LIARS on Monday, June 30th, 2025

Good morning, et cetera, dear Reader, and welcome to this free (in every literal sense of the word) American blog, written by just some other random, regular human being who's doing my best to make it in this world, much like you are, I suppose. It's been a difficult month and I'm relieved to see it coming to an end, even though I know that some of our hottest (as in, the weather) days are ahead of us.

Listening to this in the background:

And, here's today's Proverb in full text followed by the audio:

***Proverbs 3 NIV***  

Today, I want to talk about the irrefutable, undeniable FACT that anyone and everyone who deliberately lies (including and maybe especially if done FOR FINANCIAL  PROFIT) WILL GO TO HELL*. FULL STOP, PERIOD.

LYING is never "accidental". NO, it's always ON PURPOSE and even small children KNOW when they're lying. 

You know, they're not the Ten Suggestions. It's not "the Ten Good Ideas". NO, they're the Ten COMMANDMENTS.

Let me explain to you what "COMMANDMENT" means.

So, instead of being like the conceited brainless sellout morons in mainstream media (for example!) how about TELLING THE TRUTH AT ALL TIMES NO MATTER WHAT instead?

Honestly if you're going to live a life of LIES why even bother?

👇👀👇

 *without repentance and forgiveness

Sunday - June 22nd, 2025

Good morning, dear Reader, at least in this time-zone, where it's not yet six-o'clock in the morning. I'm almost always awake at this time of day now, though, so it's nothing new; not for me.

Psalm 121 NIV

Although I'm sorry that it had to come to this, with the US dropping multiple bunker-busters on the Fordow nuclear site in Iran, I'm displeased that I haven't been able to find any post-bombing images of the site yet. That's not because I'm some kind of sick ghoul, but rather for the peace of mind in *knowing* that it's been done is all.
Is the loss of human life tragic and sad? Of course it is. But, at the same time, we must also answer this next question and that is "Is a preemptive strike better than waiting for wholesale nuclear war?" and my answer to that, of course, is "Yes". 

Therefore, it's a sad and somber peace we currently have, but one that is also tentatively waiting for the other proverbial shoe to drop.
In the meantime, we should pray. 

Proverbs 22 NIV

I feel like I'm always just moments away from the end of this life even though that's proven to be inaccurate so far, one day, it won't be and I can say that with the utter confidence of knowing that this mud shell, the body that I currently live in, is not designed to live forever and surely won't, that's all. Why is it that being driven by Truth and honesty has gotten me blackballed, the perpetual pariah who refuses to tickle anxious ears with sweet and comforting lies? 
Even if I knew the answer to that, it wouldn't matter because it wouldn't change a thing, not one iota, so I'm not going to give the thought another *moment of headspace.

The sunrise is silently majestic, beautifully piercing the eastern windows with warmth, hope, the declaration that He IS, and I, for one, love all of those things, hence the motivation to be awake as a witness almost every day. 

And, with that, dear Reader, I'm going to put these aching, aging bones into a warm shower for I don't know how long and will 'see' you later. Be blessed, take care. And never, ever work for free. 😎

*corrected for redundancy

RIP Bunny Bun Bunz (2016-2025) 😭💔🐰

Hello, again if applicable, dear Reader, and welcome to this rambling, but honest, (free in every sense of the word) American blog with the awareness that you and I? Well, we're both breathing in and out right now, life a most precious gift that neither of us deserved and was not guaranteed. 

Have You Ever Been In Love? 

I have. He was a tiny little white bunny with beautiful grey markings and wide, innocent yet intelligent eyes. Bunny Bun Bunz (Bunz for short) was a gift from a dear friend, it was in 2016 and we were in Kansas.

Here he is in a picture from when he first came home, very much still a baby:

And later, as he and the Baby Kitten matured, their friendship grew concurrently closer and closer as well, deepening by the day until they were fast friends, and remained so until just a little while ago now.

But, Bunz had been hovering near us more than normal lately, and today it's like the moment that he realized on some level that 'this is it', he lept into our arms and we held him as he peacefully sighed out his last. 
His life-long best and constant friend, our Baby Kitten, hasn't been seen since before this happened at on or about 2:30 p.m. MST; we're trying to give him some space for the moment.

So, wow, nine years of having that sweet, wonderful little bunny with us! What a precious, most generous gift: thank You, Lord! 💗

Thoughts on Christianity and Perfection 6-10-2025

Hello, dear Reader, and welcome (back, if applicable) to this free and obscure American blog on this *bonus* day above ground, right?

I haven't written in several days because I don't always have good things to say, or I'm too emotionally charged (which, if I'm being honest, is often my problem, characteristic of both my sex as well as the bipolar disorder, but I digress - no mortal human being is perfect).
Suffice it to say that, on *those* days, I try to spare y'all from things that won't do anyone any good; in fact, it's a shame that I'm not nearly as good as containing that kind of 'feedback' in all areas of life (though I dearly wish that to become different, hopefully sooner rather than later). 

Today, though, I'm not spewing venom, so here am I, back again (and that made me think of this silly song so, regardless of his terrible politics! - I'll play this one by eminem):

I'll be the first to admit it, though it's controversial in nature and has even caused male friends and family to accuse me (a straight, biological female) of being misogynist, that we ladies literally are more given to the melodramatic histrionics of emotional overdrive.
That's a fact!

Hey, you don't have to like it (I certainly don't and feel that it's a fatal flaw) but my own experience of being female for more than 50 years all points to that being fact (though, at the same time, I do not presume to speak for everyone, let's keep that fact in mind as well and not ignore it in pursuit of any twisted narratives, thanks).

So! On to what's behind today's heading, which was written to briefly indicate that I will compare the definitions of both words (that is, 'Christian' and 'Perfect') and elaborate with thoughts of how sometimes people seem to conflate the true meanings of those words specifically, not based in fact (as in *not* based on the genuine, honest understanding of each word's genuine definition) but based instead in their senses of pride, Self, and need to harm someone else for the sole purpose of elevating the worshipped Self, above all and at any and all costs (that is, other than taking up their crosses and truly dying to Self instead of worshipping it, but again, I digress).

And, let's not get ahead of ourselves here. 

Today's Proverb, Proverbs 10, is (as always) confronting and correcting (at least it is to me), full of real Wisdom and direction, as well as encouraging while retaining that element of divine mystery. Honestly, who has time for fiction when the Bible exists?!

But, again, I digress. 

So, here is the definition of the word 'Christian' :

And, here is the definition of the word 'Perfect':

A cursory comparison will immediately reveal the fact that the two words are wholly *not* synonymous with one another, are not interchangeable, and can therefore never be correctly substituted for one another under any circumstances, period, ever.
Just to be crystal clear here.

So, am I (for example so I'm not picking on anyone else) by factual, literal definition 'perfect'?! 😂 Goodness, NO! (see, I picked a super easy example).

But am I (again, by actual definition) a Christian? Regardless of what anyone other than God Himself says, yes, I absolutely am, to the Death so help me God and nothing that *anyone* says can alter that irrefutable fact one iota.

😎

June 2, 2025 - a Monday

Hello, dear Reader, greetings and salutations! You, me, any and all eyes reading these words rise for yet another day of Life today (thank You, God!) And, it rained overnight; the sound woke us up and we just lay there and enjoyed it as we fell back to sleep; all of our creatures (seemed to have) slept right through it. 💤
The last time it rained before this, though, was August 31, 2024 and then we didn't even get an inch of it (0.8"). 😳

Today, I'm reading Proverbs 2 and Hebrews 9, using the Amplified version today (I like to switch it up and read all the versions randomly). There is much wisdom to find in every syllable of God's Word - sometimes, He makes some of it apparent even to me. 
The chapter from Hebrews made me think of this worship song:

Sorry, but I am deeply ashamed of my own every imperfection (including behaviourally) in light of Jesus and the price He paid for us; for you. For me. For one and for all who will receive Him.
What kind of FOOL allows pride to stand between him/her and God though? Honestly, when looked at in that way, I mean, doesn't it make you feel even just a little bit foolish in retrospect? That perspective pretty much drives home an awareness of MY own innate stupidity, I can't speak for you, though, dear Reader, because I'm referring to an inside job here.

and, further, God's got to be the One Who does much of the work.

Toward that end, I sent what I hope/pray is received as a healing message +apology (without justification - meaning, a real apology, no "but") and pray that, if she ever reads it, that it's received like the refreshing rains we had last night. In God's time, may she read it and the short message bring her comfort, that she will feel forgiven, loved, and accepted in all her imperfect humanity. But, again, that, too, will be an inside job. I'm not worried, God's timing is perfect.

Anyway, I never identified the person that I'm referring to, and won't, but she knows who she is and that is enough for me. 

The sky looks amazing right now; I've got to cook something for breakfast, but dishes first, but shower first, et cetera. 

Now, let's pray for all the humans. 💖

Lord God, thank You for yet another day above ground today! Thank You for sending that life-giving rain as we slept overnight, the world outside looks refreshed and renewed, full of life in the quiet splendor of Dawn, God. For me, personally, I ask that You please forgive me of my sins and iniquities, which are many. Please remove them far from me and replace them with Your character in accordance with Your Will, God, and thank You in advance. 
Father, we lift our family and friends to You today and ask that You please do a new thing in and for each of them, to the glory of Your Name. Please also reach out and save each of our acquaintances, God, as well as our enemies AND all the people of the earth who we do not know: save them ALL because Your Word tells us that it is Your will that all be saved, therefore let it be done in Jesus' Name. Lord, we ask that You please protect all of our leaders, God. Please surround President Trump and his entire circle with heavenly angels to protect them from the enemy, God, and please expose any/all who are less than loyal, please, in Jesus' Name. God, we ask that, world-wide, You please remove all the wicked from their places of authority and replace them with those who love and worship and obey You, God, in Jesus' Name. Please take Your Words, God, and sear them into our very hearts, God, in Jesus' Name. Thank You. Please end all war globally today, God, and please STOP death from destroying the living through that particular evil, please God, in Jesus' Name. Please end the entire human trafficking industry today, God. Please make the horrific murder of the unborn an increasingly unthinkable act world-wide, God, in Jesus' Name. Please divinely protect every single unborn baby and give each expectant mother a deep and holy love for every unborn child, God, now and always in Jesus' Name. Please heal the surviving victims of abortion and use their voices to speak to those who are tempted towards that same sin, God. Additionally, we ask that You also today heal every illness and disease; please eradicate cancer from the face of planet earth, God. Please in all of these things may Your will be done and please, answer the needful prayers that we forgot to pray today and we thank You, in Jesus' Name, amen.