Parents lie. Mom and Dad will try to deny it, but it's something we've all come to know and accept as we've gotten older. Here are some of the most common fibs parents tell their kids.
If you play in the rain you'll catch a cold
I remember the look on my mother's face the exact moment I realized this was false. Little nine year old me looked her dead in the eye and said, "No I won't! It's just like taking a cold shower!" Playing in the rain itself won’t make you sick, however, extreme changes in temperature can stress your body out which can make it harder to fight off a cold.
Where do babies come from?
This is a question many parents dread and one which many of us have received some very interesting answers to. Hopefully, by our late teenage years we have discovered the coveted secret of where we all come from. Excuses from the cabbage patch to the stork to the internet are still widely used by parents to protect their children's innocence.
Don't sit too close to the TV or you'll ruin your eyesight
This myth came about in the 60's when old TVs emitted radiation that could cause eye problems later in life. Modern TVs no longer hold this risk. The only negative effects of sitting too close to a TV set are short term (like eye strain and fatigue) which can easily be cured with rest. These effects however can also be caused by watching TV from a "reasonable" distance for long periods of time as well. In fact, it has actually been proven that young children focus on objects better at close ranges.
If you swallow gum it will get stuck in your stomach for seven years
This one is completely false. At the most, gum will take about 2 days to pass through your system. Although I wouldn't recommend swallowing large quantities of Wrigley's, rest assured the occasional slip won't kill you.
The family pet went to live on a farm
For young kids, it can be hard to comprehend the concept of death so many parents have spoken this lie to protect the child's feelings. I personally still believe my family dog is living on a farm somewhere in Rhode Island. I'm not in denial or anything.
You need to wait 30 minutes after eating before you go swimming
This lie is a pretty common one and is based upon the belief that after you eat a large meal, blood is diverted from your limbs to assist with the digestion process. A lack of blood and oxygen as well as fatigue can increase chances of cramping which may result in drowning. Although some blood is diverted to assist with digestion, it is not enough to significantly impact your swimming ability. There is actually little medical evidence to suggest that waiting 30 minutes to swim after eating decreases risk of drowning.
Your face will freeze like that
The best way to get back at your siblings or friends is obviously by making ridiculous faces. Rest assured there is no way your face could actually freeze in that cross-eyed, tongue out, ears pulled position unless you have some pre-existing muscular condition. The only things that could possibly result from pulling funny faces are laugh and frown lines later in life, but hey we all get them. Why not enjoy the process?
If you eat raw cookie dough you'll get sick
This one is actually probably true, but I refuse to admit my mother was right. Moderation is key my friends.
Santa/ Tooth Fairy/ Easter Bunny
No list of parental lies would be complete without this one. Childhoods have been crushed, dreams dashed because of this knowledge.
