Liar, Liar

I have really been enjoying having a toddler.  Evangeline, you are such a vibrant little girl with a big smile and a big personality.  But with all the things I enjoy, there have been things that have been challenging and frustrating.  One of those things we have been dealing with more and more is lying.  At first, when we caught you in a lie, you would say that you were just "pretending."  Then "pretending" turned into "forgetting."  And now it's just straight up lying. 

This past weekend, we went to go visit aunt Gina (eemo).  When we got to eemo's house, EV and uncle Chris went downstairs to play with Happy (their dog).  Apparently uncle Chris fell asleep and EV watched some TV with Chris's mom.  Well, at home we do not let EV watch TV and she has to ask before she plays with our phone or iPad.  So, when eemo and mommy started asking what she did downstairs, she started avoiding eye contact. 

Then I asked her: "EV, did you watch TV with grandma downstairs?" 
EV answers, "No." 
Then I ask her to look at me and tell me the truth. 
She continues to respond with a "No." 
I then tell her that I don't care that she watched TV but that I do care if she tells me the truth. 
She responds with, "No." 
Then I ask her if she promises that she didn't watch TV.
She says, "No." 
Then I ask her if I can go ask grandma.
She frantically says, "No!" 
Then I ask her again, "Okay, then tell me the truth, did you watch TV?"
She proceeds to answer, "No." 

This goes on for a few minutes.  Then I tell her that I am going to believe you because I don't know if you fully understand what it means to lie.  This whole time EV is looking stressed and upset.

Later in the car on our way home after she has had some time to forget about the situation, I ask her again, "EV, when you went downstairs to play with happy and uncle Chris fell asleep, did you watch TV with grandma?" 
She says with a sly smirk, "Yes..." 
I then explained to her that what she did was wrong (not the watching TV but the lying).  I asked her, "EV, can you apologize?" 
EV says, "I am sorry." 
I ask her "Why are you sorry?  What did you do wrong?" 
EV says, "I lied."

The next day, EV spills milk and plays with it.  I turn around and she quickly walks away. 
I ask her if she played with the spilled milk. 
She says "No." 
I think to myself, "Are you serious?!? I thought you learned your lesson yesterday! I just saw you play with the milk and you're going to lie again?!?" 
I say out loud, "EV, remember mommy wants you to tell me the truth.  You will get in more trouble if you lie than if you tell the truth." 

And so we start the lesson all over again.  Lord, please grant me the wisdom and patience to deal with this lying.  Show me when I need to discipline her, love her, forgive her, and teach her. 

The face of a liar:

EV loves her uncle!!