We’ve all been there. The kids refusing to go to bed, not eating their food, having a tantrum because they can’t get their way, getting out of buying something – the list goes on. Parents of every generation have resorted to telling harmless white lies to make life easier. I now tell the ones my mum told me to my children and added my own. Fair play!

- The music only plays when they have run out of ice cream.
- The batteries have run out for that toy.
- The tooth fairy must have left the money on the other side of the bed.
- Santa didn’t see your list so got you something even better.
- If you go to bed now you can stay up later tomorrow.
- You can’t have another drink of water before bedtime. The water has run out.
- The park is shut as it’s too cold outside.
- They don’t allow scooters in this playground.
- The school only allows long skirts.
- They ran out of chocolate in the shop.
- I can’t find the TV remote control.
- The WIFI is down again.
- You Tube has crashed, so we can’t listen to that song again.
- They only have it in this colour which is handy as it’s cheaper.
- What a shame the ride is broken. Maybe it will be fixed next time we come to the supermarket?
- The sign in this restaurant says children who sit nicely can choose an icecream for dessert.
- If you eat your spinach you will get muscles like Popeye.
- Broccoli are small trees, so if you eat them you will grow taller.
- Reading in the dark will damage your eyes.
- Can I have a sip of your Coca Cola? It’s black water and doesn’t taste very nice.