Names and other details have been changed to comply with HIPAA; otherwise, this story is closely based on a true story :-)
“Are you going to get Shirley some new food?” she asked.
I agreed that yes I was–I would be back in a few minutes.
I returned with checks in hand, delivered them to Sherry and Shirley’s mom, and wished the family a good day.
“She said she was going to get Shirley some new food.” Sherry told her mom.
Mom explained. “She did. She gave me checks, which are sort of like money so I can get Shirley her food. Now we have to go to the grocery store to get the food.”
“Can I tell her something?” Sherry asked her mother.
When Mom said yes, Sherry turned to me. “You said that you were going to give Shirley some new food.”
I tried to explain while Mom laughed, “Sherry, you take this so literally.”
Finally, I realized that the abstractness of a check was beyond Sherry’s 3 year old mind. “I’m sorry, Sherry. I should have been more clear. I was going to get checks so your mom could buy Shirley some new food.”
As Sherry and her family left, I heard mom trying to explain again while Sherry continued to insist: “But she said she was going to get Shirley some new food.”
There’s never a boring moment when you’re working with kids.
Have you ever unintentionally “lied” to a child?
I’m sure I have, but the only thing I can remember is when they have asked to do something and I’ve said, “I’ll think about it” when I had no intention of thinking about it any further – I knew my answer was going to be “No” but just didn’t want to say so yet. Once I realized that I was convicted and changed how I phrased it.
Sometimes we don’t realize how our words can be taken until a very literal child questions us about them. :-)