How to Take Responsibility for When You’re Four

The other day I walked into our playroom and found my ear-muff-thingies (the ones that I wear when using really loud power tools) laying on the floor. Problem was, they were broken. I had seen our four year old eyeing them earlier in the day, so I had a strong suspicion that he was responsible… But I didn’t know for sure. A day or so later he having a snack at the kitchen table and I asked him “Do you know what happened to Daddy’s ear muffs?”

He got a really sheepish look, squirmed a little, and then said “Ummm, they broke. But it was an accident.”

“An accident?” I replied. “Did you do it?”

“Yes, I’m sorry,” he said.

I responded by telling him that I wasn’t mad about them getting broken — accidents happen, after all — but I was disappointed that he hadn’t told me about it.

His response? “But I just did tell you about it!”

Excellent strategy… ‘Fess up, but only after you get caught. And then try to spin it like you like you actually came forward on your own.