A dad told his four-year-old daughter the Easter bunny, Santa and the Tooth Fairy weren't real because lying to your kids is "gaslighting". Mathew Boudreaux, 47, believes honesty to be the best policy when it comes to parenting.
And when their daughter Helena, now nine, started to ask questions aged four, they answered truthfully. The professional crafter told her the Easter Bunny, Santa and Tooth Fairy weren't real - but she could play along if she wanted.
Helena decided she didn't want to "pretend" the Easter Bunny was real but still takes part in Easter traditions such as egg hunts and eating chocolate. Despite "knowing the truth" Helena plays along with other children and doesn't tell them the Easter bunny isn't real.
Matthew said they told her the truth because lying to kids about Santa and the Easter Bunny "is global gaslighting" The married dad-of-one from Camas, Washington, USA, said: "For me Easter is all about family and we aren't taking any magic away.
"Helena started asking questions when she was four about Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy and we chose not to lie to her. There is an element of morality between lying and not lying - the second choice is the right choice
"I'm not taking away any magic. For us we didn't want to have lies there's a different psychologically between pretending and lying- when it comes to lying you can opt-in
"Lying takes away a child's ability to critically think. We're removing the option of consent when we lie- we gave her the option to opt in to pretend
"I don't lie because it discredits the child's critical thinking and it creates a problem for the rest of the world who don't participate in those traditions. It's global gaslighting to lie on this scale - it is absolutely still bananas to me why those who choose not to lie are the villains in this story Just because everyone is doing it - doesn't mean it's moral."
Mathew says Helena opts to play consensual make-believe when it comes to Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy but believes a giant bunny entering her home is a step too far for the imagination. She chose she didn't want to pretend the Easter Bunny was real but we still take part in all the fun stuff," they said.
"We will have a big dinner, make crochet Easter bunnies and do an Easter egg hunt."
According to Mathew, Helena plays along with her classmates and doesn't reveal the lie to them . Mathew said: "To the outsider you wouldn't know the difference, I told her when she was old enough to understand this part of it other children's parents chose to not tell the truth, and its their parents' responsibilities to tell them."
Mathew says parents lying to their children creates a problem further down the line and could cause them to lose trust in the world. They added: "Honesty is the most important component.
"Parents don't need to tell their kids any of this is real- they can choose to play make-believe. We're having a blast pretending."
