Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Step-parenting

Connect with other Mumsnetters here for step-parenting advice and support.

How to deal with lying

4 replies

MoodyMargaret11 · 04/05/2026 22:58

Have a teen SC, largely get on well and no major issues currently. However he used to lie A LOT when he was younger, sometimes to make himself look superior, other times to get his way, or to avoid taking responsibility/consequences to something he'd said or done.
Although he is much better now, there are sometimes situations I find difficult to handle. When he's said something mean to my DC but no one else around, so when I try to ask him about it and work things out, he flat out denies and acts like his sibling is the one lying or mishearing things. His dad is useless as he puts it down to a misunderstanding, mis-remembering or no big deal. But it bothers me and I feel pretty disappointed that he'd treat family like this and also that he's happy to just lie.
Is it better to just stop addressing these things with him altogether, and let his relationship with my DC take it's natural course? And just support DC privately?
The kind of things he says are not something horrendous, but still hurtful. I dont really want any drama, just say Sorry and move on. But becomes a bigger thing when he doesn't.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Weirdconditionaltense · 05/05/2026 03:44

Yes it needs to be dealt with..Get your partner involved..Do not ignore it. A few examples of what he's said could be helpful and in particular cases where the lies are causing hurt to your children. Make a big deal of it. Honesty counts

Nothingrhymes · 05/05/2026 05:49

I think it's really important that you get to the bottom.of why he feels the need to lie.

As pp said honesty is really important . Lying makes a person unreliable, untrustworthy and unattractive and permeates all aspect of person 's life and has wide reaching repercussions. It really needs to be addressed before it becomes ingrained.

MrsTerryPratchett · 05/05/2026 14:14

Is it always and only a he said she said with your child? Not historically, but currently.

rainbowstardrops · 05/05/2026 14:18

How do you know he’s always lying and your child isn’t lying sometimes as well?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread