A few days ago big man spun a story about the tooth fairy getting confused and leaving a peanut M&M under his pillow, so he thought he had better eat it. My response "How dare you make up lies! The tooth fairy wont come to little boys that lie, and neither will Father Christmas!"

Hmmmmnnnn so that's one lie responded to by another then.

And so comes Christmas full of deciet. How many of you have threatened your kids with no presents unless they are good? How many of you have come up with the most confusing explanations as to why Father Christmas is at the local carnival/shopping centre/on posters around town. I am dreading the questions this year. I need to get my lies sorted in my head before big man asks the questions. He is a very questioning little five year old. Recently when we went to watch Ice Age Live he asked the question I fear just as much as those about Santa. As the actors came out of the costumes in order to do the fight scenes he asked "Is Mickey Mouse real Mummy?" This was an easy one for me to answer. "Well I believe he is!" When I am in a Disney bubble I really do! I then, however, made the mistake of continuing to talk. I told him that this was a story about the ice age and that these animals are now extinct which is why actors are playing them, but Mickey is real as we have seen him in Paris. Of course he doesn't talk because he would get a sore throat talking to all those people and there are many languages he would need to know.

So is it right to lie to your kids? When it comes to Christmas I think it is fine. He is only five, and it is so magical when they really believe that Santa will visit. Obviously we have a slight problem this year in that Middle man is a little bit naughty. Big man keeps telling him that he won't get any presents! I think I therefore need to start highlighting and praising any good behaviour middle man exhibits, infront of big man. Alternatively, I could just give middle man a satsuma from Father Chrsitmas this year. Which to be honest he would probably be quite happy with!

So what white lies have you come up with about Christmas? Do you just keep it simple or have you told a web of lies? Just to really complicate things I have arranged a free phone call from Mickey Mouse who will tell the children that Santa knows they have been good. I am making it go to answerphone though so they don't get upset that the pre-recorded message doesn't answer them!