The Art of Deception: Toddler Style

I told my two year old that she needed to eat more of her dinner before she could play. A minute later I returned to the table and was proud to see most of the food gone. Pixie was dabbing her mouth with a napkin.

"Can I go play now?" Pixie sweetly asked.
"Sure, honey! I'm so proud of you for eating your dinner."
"Oh, I didn't eat it. I put it inside the vase and hid it behind the picture frame on the shelf so you wouldn't see it."
"Which picture frame?"
Pixie pointed to my engagement photo on the corner shelf.
"But don't look behind it, Mommy, because I don't want you to find the vase."

Sure enough, my Tiffany's bud vase was stashed behind the frame, crammed to the brim with beef stroganoff, broccoli and French bread.

It's a fascinating thing to see a person learn the art of deception. Obviously Pixie has a long way to go before she masters it, but she's well on her way. She'll approach me with her hands behind her back. "What are you holding behind your back," I ask.
"Your makeup. But I'm hiding it so you don't take it away from me."
"Can I have it?"
"No, I'm hiding it so you won't know I have it."

Or this scenario: I'm sitting at my desk working and she comes running up to me with a mouth stuffed full of chocolate. "Mommy! I didn't just get the candy out of your purse and eat it."
"Then what's that in your mouth?"
"Nuffing."
"Is it chocolate?"
"No! I didn't open your purse to get it out."

The poor thing, she does try. How ineffective to be cursed with both sneakiness and honesty simultaneously. The two just don't mix.