When I was a kid, every summer the fair came to town. My dad had this trick: he’d pull into the paid parking lot, ask some random worker for the name of “who runs the place,” and then roll up to the gate claiming to be that guy’s cousin. Always confident, always convincing—and it worked every time. But I remember sitting there thinking, Wait… what happened to all that “always be honest” talk? It wasn’t just my dad. At a buffet once, my mom said my niece was 6 to get the cheaper kids’ price. My niece proudly corrected her: “I’m 7!” I just laughed. But not in a happy mood. I mean, I knew what was going on when I was a kid, but I kept quiet. Now as an adult, I still don’t know exactly how I feel about it all. Was it harmless? Was it hypocritical? I’m not trying to judge them. Maybe I’m just wondering how these little moments shaped the way we see “right” and “wrong” now. Anyone else ever feel that same weird mix of admiration, awkwardness, and confusion watching their parents hustle? #FamilyDynamics #ChildhoodMemories #Parenting #FamilyRelationships