Matilda moments: telling fibs

Well, dear PB friends, I have survived today! Fridays are always my trickiest day of the week as I have all three pixies with me. I have heard way too much squabbling, pleaded for the hall door to be shut about 50 times and done far too many loads of washing (especially following the “Woops-I-just-spilt-milk-all-over-the-sofa-despite-the-fact-you-had-asked-me-to-drink-it-sitting-at-the-table” moment). Hmm. Anyway, they’re all asleep now. Oh, and for the record, I remembered to deadlock us into the house for most of the day (after this) but Sammy still escaped outside when Joshie left the front door open. Not onto the road, mind. Hmm. Mr PB is still at work. Hmm. I have a glass of red in hand. Here's something a little lighter to end the week.

When I was in Grade Five, we learnt the entertaining poem 'Matilda' by Hilaire Belloc off by heart. I can still recall it verbatim, so burned was it into my memory. It struck me as something I should remember as a salutary life lesson as it involved a naughty girl who told lies. That was foreign territory for me as I was such a goody-two-shoes. My parents insisted on the truth - I remember the one thing my Dad wrote in my autograph book (remember them?) was 'Always tell the truth'.

Here are the first few lines.

Matilda told such Dreadful Lies,

It made one Gasp and Stretch one's Eyes;

Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth,

Had kept a Strict Regard for Truth,

Attempted to Believe Matilda:

The effort very nearly killed her.. 

The little minx Matilda

Have a read - what a terrible fate awaited the little liar. No wonder I couldn't forget it.

They adore the story of Pinocchio which is such a visual concept for them. His name is often taken in vain on PB given their father's propensity to tell whoppers or exaggerate at the very least (mainly for their benefit). They are waiting for the day when he won't be able to fit in the door because of his long nose! 

The little rascal himself

So far (and I'm crossing my fingers big time that this continues for a while yet), we haven't had many 'Matilda moments' on PB. In the main, the pixies are truthful, often painfully so ("Daddy, your breath stinks"). They are prone to wild extravagances but I figure that's their vivid imaginations in overdrive which I would really love to encourage. As long as it's not harming anyone and they're just tall stories, I'm content to leave them be and chuckle along with them. I do a mean line in raised eyebrows, I must say.

No doubt you all have experienced some 'Matilda moments' of your own, particularly those with teenagers. Do share - I need to prepare for what lies ahead (sorry for the pun but it's late)!