Do You Ever Lie About Your Kids age?--JFF

I wouldn't lie because lying is wrong...but that is me. Why can't you order a meal that can be shared? Just a thought...

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Didn't read any of the other responses, so someone probably already said this, but beware, they OFTEN ask the child directly how old they are if they appear to be of an age to properly respond to the question... kids are far less likely to lie than the parent! You don't want to say she's 3, then have her chime in saying, "But Mom, I'm 4!" LOL

Tried it...backfired all the way! Daughter refused to say she was three when she was four. She didn't let it go...and she is almost six and says "remember that time you told me to say I was three?"....they are wayyyyyyyy tooooo smart!

She will correct you. :) Just have her eat from your plate. :)

Definitely don't lie, but ask the waitress if they can make an exception. Tell them your daughter JUST turned 4. Lots of places are nice and will make an exception. That way you don't have a lie on your conscience, and your daughter WILL tell the truth!

Amazing how lying is a LEARNED thing. So don't teach it to your kids!

I wouldn't do it. If you can spend a "bajillion dollars" for a resort, you can afford another $75 for food for her for 3 days.

Or share your plate with her.

I say do it. I know that sounds awful to some, but 9 bucks for the 5 bites the kids eat is crazy. When you get there, just have one of you (you or hubby) go into the Hostess and put your name in, then you don't have to worry about damaging your childs sense of right and wrong. I get what the gal below was saying so keep the kid out of ear range but... 9 bucks per meal is nuts. I know on these vacation packages it is all buffet so they charge you as you sit down, not for what you order.

Just share your plate with her

When I was 5 or 6 years old, my dad lied to get me a free turn at the horse stables. I loudly and persistently tried to correct him as he shushed me up. My parents made such a big deal about us kids telling the truth that I was just trying to do the right thing. When I finally figured out what was going on, I lost alot of respect for him because he made us do one thing but didn't do it himself.

It's not worth it! This one little incident from long ago made a huge impression on me. Kid's are more aware than we give them credit for and if you lie to save a few bucks, it'll cost you way more in parenting value in the long run.

Wow, add me to the (small) list of nonperfect ones. I am guilty too, at least with my first kid. But I wouldn't advice to do it because it didn't work out for me, my daughter sold me out, lol.
When that happened she didn't notice I lie she thought at made a mistake, when she grow I told her what happen.
That was long time ago and when we remember we laught about and she tells me:"You see, you better don't lie about yours too". She knows when she was little we struggle for a little bit, of course this wasn't Disney but a normal family restaurant, I said it was wrong and we move on.
I think my daughter is smart enough to don't take that as a excuse for her to lie and instead take it as what happen it you do.
However, I think that the moms that have advice to better share from your plate are right on and I would do that instead.

Just tell them she just turned 4 and hardly eats. I bet they'll let it slide.

We only have to get our kids into the racetrack. My husband races and we spend a fortune in entry fees while our kids spend the entire time in the trailer. Plus we usually buy a few snacks. Kids 5 and under get in free, so they were 5 as long as we got away with it! They had no clue, as they were in the back seat not paying attention. They weren't actually watching the event so we never felt guilty.

Now, I do remember one vacation my grandmother invited us on. I had just turned 7, and kids 6 and under got in free to this attraction we went to. (It was supposed to be just a camping trip, no extra costs.) I was always tiny, so my mom who was broke, told them I was 6. I busted out telling them I wasn't! I know my mom just couldn't afford it, otherwise she wouldn't have lied. She was humiliated. :(

haha! plug your daughters ears, or she will likely correct you. I did this with the bus, 5 and under was free, and my daughter corrected me for lying & I was so redfaced!

I'm more upset about your wanting to rip off a legitimate business than the lying. I'm a business owner. Your post makes me kind of angry.

I have lied, incidentally, about my kids age. Never to get anything free though. Once we wanted to go horseback riding and my daughter was a few months shy of 10, which was the required age. Then I lied and said she was 10. But the stable made money, I didn't rip them off.

tempting tempting tempting

But maybe if they ask you directly you could explain that she just turned 4 and could you please have the discount, never know at least then you'll be honest.

No, never. Can't teach them not to lie if you do it yourself.

I can't lie, we did it to get into Disneyland when my son had turned 3 like 2 weeks before we went... but I wouldn't do it now and he was sleeping when we went into the park so didn't hear anything... a 4 year old might dime you out though :)

Just make sure your kid doesn't "speak up" -- my daughter is 3.5 and is VERY excited to tell anyone who will listen how old she is and when her birthday is :) I would do it....haven't had a reason to yet....but in your circumstances I likely would.

Disneyland last summer I am warning you it is not easy because kids love their age there is a constant reminding- you are only 5 not 6 yet remember- there is usually bribery involved.

guilty. Although I try not to do it and never stretch it by much. I will admit though there are a lot of times I have done it completely on accident. I don't handle emergencies well and on a trip to the beach my middle son got his hand smashed in the car door. i totally told the ER he was a year younger than he was. I felt like and idiot when they corrected me, but hey i was worried about his hand, lol. Now my issue is thinking they are older than they are. I constantly say my oldest is 12 which he won't be until september, just because he is entering that preteen phase and all that. It's such an issue my husband (his step dad) just asked me the other day if he was already 12 or not, cause he forgot.

Don't do it. Please. For one thing, you will feel guilty the entire time. But the bigger thing is this: What are you teaching your daughter? She KNOWS how old she is, doesn't she? Don't teach her to lie because it is easier or saves you money. What a horrible thing to teach such an impressionable young child.

Besides, the reality is that you knew what the costs were when you made your reservations and booked the vacation. To lie about your daughter's age at this point is really stealing. If you don't want her ordering food that you will have to pay for at $9.00 a pop, then brown bag it for her. I can relate to having a child who eats 3 bites out of their meal. I learned to bring things from home if I didn't want to pay to throw food away.

Hi. My daughter is so tall I have to convince people that she is actually 4. If I could get away with it I would. Just make sure your daughter doesn't say no Mommy I'm 4. That could really be embarrassing. Good luck with your decision.

Janelle! Hilarious!! See - don't lie!

nope....my son is short for being 8 years old. and being short is hard enough on him....he looks like he is about 5 years old. so lying would hurt his feelings. also too aren't you teaching your child right from wrong? lying is wrong!!!!

Even "little" lies can send your daughter the wrong message. I know it seems tempting to save money, but in the big picture what values do you want to pass on to your family? I agree with the posts about sharing a meal, or could you have some meals in your room? We usually try to stay somewhere with a kitchen so that we can make our meals and save money that way. Perhaps you could eat somewhere less expensive rather than at the place you are staying. Good luck!

I would just have her share meals with the other two. Get free meals for the younger ones, even if you don't think they will eat it at all, and let her eat from them. And, she can share from your plates, too. I would not buy her a meal of her own, but I also wouldn't lie to them about her age. You could always ask the waitress. Very often, they will just let the age thing slide.

No I never did it. What example are you setting for your daughter? and are you going to ask her to lie about her age if they ask her? I just think it is wrong. I would just ask for another plate and share with her. Plus, if you are already paying a bajjillion dollars what's a few more. Have a great vacation!!!!!Right now I am very jealous. I hope it is somewhere warm and sunny. :)

well, i admit that we sometimes will lie about my fiance's son's age. he and my daughter are about the same size, though they're a year and a half apart. so when we are at restaraunts (usually the chinese buffet) and are asked, we just say two. the boys assume we are talking about my daughter. but the waitresses think that my daughter and fiance's youngest son are like twins. they look enough alike.

i most surely do! and mot mad at you because you do it either! lol

at that age, your daughter is going to correct you. additionally, if she's that poor of an eater, order something for yourself that she can share with you.

Wow Shaun,
I'm surprised by some of the extreme responses to this question. Ripping of a business? Really, by a newby 4 yr. old who will undoubtedly eat like a 2 yr. while on vacation? And the restaurant is charging $9 for a kids meal? Who is ripping who off here?

When the age is that darn close and you are already buying adult meals I wouldn't feel bad about decreasing her age a few months. I would just be cautious about not doing it in front of her.

no, I have not, but I have insisted my 13yr old neice who does not even finish a kid's meal almost anywhere order the kid's plate if they do not then I ask for the lunch portion.

I have done it maybe twice when my oldest was about 3 or 4 but only when she wouldn't listen at what I'm talking to the cashier .....my daughter will corrected me instantly !!! And that's very embarrassed if your trying to get a free meal......(back then I was single and she wasn't a good eater).....
Right now I can tell you : no , I don't do it I prefer that my kids share a meal ....if you are going to be in vacation the hotels give you coupons for dinners and stuff....

My daughter would never go along with the lie...wouldn't even try it. We even paid full pop for Disneyland as soon as she hit that age (that's a bajillion dollars!!). Older kids are more expensive I have accepted and I prefer to be honest.

I haven't done it as tempting as it may be, it is still wrong and sometimes it's the really small lies we do/tell that eat at us. Maybe the reason they charge a bajillion dollars to stay there is because lots of people lie about there childrens ages, so they have to make up for it somehow. :-)

It has varied...I know odd answer. The reason being is I have small slender boys. They honestly don't look their age at all which also tends to be a family trait on my side. I have had people assume their age before I even speak. Other times I have lied about their age but when I have done that it was always out of earshot of the kids. My oldest is almost 15 and the youngest is 10.

My son will correct me if i get ay of the boys ages wrong. So I have no way I could. My conscience four feet tall and knows what is right...he doesnt let mom fudge EVER:)... i WILL NORMALLY HAVE KIDS SHARE MEALS OR I WILL ODER EXTra sides (sorry caplock was on), So I get at least a small meal. or my hubby will egt something he knows the big boy will eat and we all share..family style:) have fun with vacation with three. Its alot of fun and alot of work!!

-Libby

If you do it you are setting a bad example to your child. You're teaching them to lie to save money.....

We should always model for our children the way we want them to behave. They imitate everything. What do YOU think you should do?

Sorry-I would never lie about kids' ages. Not only could they tell on you, but also because it's a bad example to teach.

HAHA! I would probably do what you did. The only time I remember lying about my kids ages was one time when we were driving 2 blocks away to get the kids car seats out of my fiances care, and sure enough, I got pulled over. My girls are 21 months apart, but look like twins, the oldest being 7. When the officer asked where their carseats were, I shot my girls a look, then turned to him ans sweetly told him they were both 8. WHEW. Got out of tickets for not having the damn carseats I was on my way to get! Not my proudest mommy moment, and I told the girls that lying is NEVER okay and I apologized (even though it was intentional)... and everything was okay. Neverrr doing that again!!

Yeah Sort of. LOL. My baby turned 2 this year. Her bday was on thursday and we had pizza and cupcakes at home. Well friday rolled around and we decided to go to Chili's. I told them it was her b-day so she could get a free ice cream scoop. To tell you the truth I just felt like her bday was in limbo and we were still celebrating. Bday on thursday, dinner on friday, actual party with everyone on saturday. So technically I did.
Is there anyway you could just order her a child's side dish and pay a fraction of the cost?

I would not lie, but not bring it up, let them decide...if they ask a vague question like is she in the free category, then I may fib, but only if she was unaware.....I used to bring my daughter to the circus where 1 and under was free and i would J. say pretend like your sleeping its a fun game, saved us 30 ...she had no idea, at the circus a kid who J. turned 2 cant see unless they sit on your lap, so I didn't want to pay to J. use the seeat at a thing to hold items, also the movies the same thing, I J. wouldn't by her a ticket when she was 3 and if they asked, which they never did, i would've said yes shes 3, and would've been fine with getting a ticket, but since they never asked I never had to, shes 4 now, so I get her a ticket J. because shes older, they still don't ask though