son making up stories

[kathleen]

My son got a call from a school friend yesterday afternoon. (He is in first grade.) During the call my son kept telling this other little boy that he was just joking. So, when he got off the phone, I asked him what that was all about. He started laughing and said he told Tyler (a boy in his class) that (1) his dad owned a 4-wheeler shop, (2) he had a Playstation (we don't!), and (3) he had a new dad. Well, I was just flabberghasted (spelling?), and I just looked at him. My son started to cry then and say he was just joking -- over and over. I finally got him calmed down, and said that it was OK to joke about somethings -- but not to joke about having a new dad. That would hurt daddy's feelings, and so on.

So, is this normal for a seven year old??? I don't know if I am over reacting or not? Up until this last year and a half, he has not even known what name brands are. (He still thinks Big K colas from Kroger are the coolest!) Now, it just seemed like he was trying to impress this other boy. Should I just drop the issue? He said he was going to apologize to Tyler for tricking him -- and that is not even something my son and I discussed. He just said that on his own.

[AnnW]

Yep. He probably wished he had alot of that. And he could have been trying to impress also. The lines between fantasy and reality are still a little blurry. I can also remember my kids telling tall tells and saying "I was just joking". I would say that a joke is something funny to EVERYONE, but tall tales are things told to trick another person and that isn't very nice. It sounds like you handled it well.

[Amy]

My dd (6) likes to say she *forgot* when I quiz her on her white lies. I think they are not totally aware of the consequences of their fibs until you call them on it. I think you handled it well too!

[Diane]

I think it's kind of normal at that age. I had a little guy in my daycare who would talk about his new dog all of the time. I thought it was kind of strange that his mom had gotten him a dog seeing he was allergic and she had told me they would never own a dog. (Mine doesn't shed so he was okay with her) He'd come here with stories about how his dog had done this n that... and how they'd go for walks. He even said that it was black and white. Well... one day I asked his mom how the dog was doing. She just stood there and looked at me like I was nuts or something... then asked me if I had forgotten that they couldn't HAVE a dog because of ds's allergies??? Well... her ds admitted to the stories but just said that he was telling a joke. (which lasted darn near a month) Another time he'd told a story about how his dad had jumped out of his bedroom window... which was up on the 2nd story. I figured that one out without even having to ask. LOL

It sounds like your ds was only trying to impress a new friend. :) You handled it perfectly... :)

Diane... :wave: