What struck me about this has nothing to do with him, really. It's about secrets. I started thinking on the fun of keeping secrets, and now it's led me to an issue of child-rearing.

You see, we have this rule with my daughter, basically we tell her that if anyone tells her not to tell us something (her parents), she should tell us immediately. I think the reasons for this should be pretty damned obvious with a little thought.

But I got to thinking about the fun that secrets are, and that I'm worried about her not feeling like she has the freedom to have secrets, like she has to tell us everything. And certainly some secrets are fun, good things, a secret favorite toy, a secret place to sleep, or a secret place in the woods.

I hope she understand the distinction, that she doesn't have to tell us all secrets. That the key is when someone tells not to "tell your mom and dad", that this is the warning sign, the sign that something is wrong, with the secret in question.

I began this thinking that I was going to modify that "rule". But as I read this, I actually am reassured that it is the right thing. I just have to make sure that she understand the rule.

Secrets can be fun, so long as they're your secrets that you keep for your happiness.
10:23:02 AM     Discuss: []