Dad tells 4-year-old truth about Easter Bunny as lying to kids is 'gaslighting'
A dad told their four-year-old daughter the truth about the Easter Bunny, Santa and the Tooth Fairy - because lying to your kids is "gaslighting".
Mathew Boudreaux, 47, believes honesty to be the best policy when it comes to parenting.
So when their daughter Helena, now nine, started to ask questions five years ago, they answered truthfully.
Even though the professional crafter told her the Easter Bunny, Santa and Tooth Fairy weren't real, they said she could play along if she wanted.
Helena decided she didn't want to "pretend" but still takes part in Easter traditions such as egg hunts and eating chocolate - and doesn't tell her friends what she knows.
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Helena still takes part in Easter activities (Mathew Boudreaux / SWNS)
Matthew says lying about the Easter Bunny is 'global gaslighting' (Getty Images)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.
A crochet bunny crafted by Matthew (Mathew Boudreaux / SWNS)
She started asking questions when she was four (Mathew Boudreaux / SWNS)"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.
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"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.
Helena now 'opts in' to go along with Easter celebrations (Mathew Boudreaux / SWNS)
Matthew says there is a difference between pretending and lying, and it can have an impact on a child's critical thinking (Getty Images)"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 it's their parent's responsibility 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."
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