Asking my kids to keep secrets will never be okay with me

 Asking my kids to keep secrets will never be okay with me.

Not little ones
Not fun ones
Not “harmless” ones

Because where do you draw the line
Who decides what’s harmless and what’s not
To a child, keeping a secret feels the same
Heavy
Confusing
Scary

In our home we say surprise for birthdays and gifts
But we do not use the word secret
Because secrets are how unsafe people hide harm
And I will never let my child believe that silence equals love

They will grow up knowing
If someone says don’t tell your mom
You tell her first
If someone says this is just between us
You come straight to me

Their safety matters more than anyone’s comfort
Even family