A bedtime story for all. There once was a boy who grew up in a life of luxury. He was given most anything he wanted and if he did not get it he would throw a tantrum on the floor. This made for embarrassing moments for his mother who would send him to his room to think about matters. He would trudge off red-faced and livid mumbling “it is not my fault.”
Later his mother would check on him to see if he and cooled down. In her efforts to try to get him to see the error of his ways, she often failed to get the message through. “You just don’t like me he would say” when she said he could not have a cookie or piece of cake just before dinner. “Of course, I do my son, why do you say that?” she would ask.
“Because you are being mean to me,” he would exclaim through dried and new tears. “Saying you cannot have something is not being mean,” she replied. “You will spoil your appetite.”
“It will not. I have the largest appetite in the history of mankind,” he would boast. “I can eat anything at any time.”
“Now you are just being silly,” she would answer with a smile. “When you say foolish things like that, people won’t believe you.”
The toddler just smiled. “You just watch. I think if I repeat things enough, act tough and blame others, I can make people believe anything.” His mother listened and replied, “Yes, but at what cost?”
The moral of this story is know who your children play with. The toddler who blames everyone but himself will become a similar kind of adult, if he is allowed to get away with it.
musingsofanoldfart 
Important message and lesson, Geoff. Well written!
Thanks Erika. But, who is Geoff?
Oh, I am sorry, I still must have commented on Geoff’s post just before yours and still had his name in my head. I apologize. That had not happened in years but its seems, it still does. Again, sorry about that.
No worries. I have done this on more than one occasion as well. I like the spelling. Signed: Not Geoff.
That the pattern continues to be encouraged stuns me.
VJ, truly. Keith
A poignant tale, too bad its so true to life!
Joy, it is sad this tale is based on truth. Keith
Gee … I wonder who you could be talking about? 🤔 Good story … good lesson. Sad, but true. I have a son, now 50 years of age. Throughout his life he has never accepted responsibility for his own actions and has been to prison a couple of times. I will never forget one summer day he was out playing with his sister and some other neighborhood kids, when he came rushing into the house and said, “Whatever they say I did, I didn’t do it!” To this day, he claims to be ‘persecuted’ when his lies catch up with him. Fortunately, he isn’t a politician!
Jill, I am so sorry you have had to deal with this. I think this is why “the buck stops here” was such a meaningful slogan. Keith
It is what it is. It’s really funny, because he and Chris are, as I said, very close in age, had the same parents, the same set of values instilled, but they are to this day as different as night and day. Daughter Chris would give you the shirt off of her back, while son Michael would knock you down and take the shirt off of your back!
Jill, I know this is bothersome. Sadly, none of us are perfect and some have greater challenges than others. Best wishes my friend. Keith
Hmmmm… I wonder who that sounds like? Unfortunately, it’s not just politicians who suffer from the Notmeism affliction.
Janis, there is a strong resemblance isn’t there? You’re right about the me-ism. Keith
Not happening in my house, fortunately. But I get the moral. 😉
Betsy, you are on top of things. I am glad it is not happening on your watch. Keith