Parenting question about lying - please help!

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People write these books http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312310390/104-6962173-5911940?v=glance&n=283155
Someone says in a review of this book- “According to Mr. Smith, most of us lie because it is inbred, to insure the survival of the species. Lying is as natural as breathing. For men, it seems to be! He feels that we have a need for social lies in the interest of civility (those little white lies)”

These researchers are saying that most adults lie everyday in everyday conversations.

UMass researcher finds most people lie in everyday conversation

Some say it is a skill that we all pick up.
How does this research gel with most people thinking that honesty is such a virtue to teach our kids?
“It’s so easy to lie,” Feldman said. “We teach our children that honesty is the best policy, but we also tell them it’s polite to pretend they like a birthday gift they’ve been given. Kids get a very mixed message regarding the practical aspects of lying, and it has an impact on how they behave as adults.”

[gigi]

@WhyNot

At 13 years old, he needs to begin learning small, safe and affordable lessons in personal responsibility for his actions.

Got it. That makes sense; I was scarred by a father who would blame you for all injuries even the clearly accidental ones so I am pretty gun-shy about that!

[jjimm]

I am sure noblebaron did exactly the right thing, but I have to say that I was a devious little bastard when I was a kid. When I was about 8, for some unknown reason I hated brushing my teeth. I used to eat toothpaste, rub some into my toothbrush, then wash it off just so I could “prove” I’d done it, which is just about as much effort as actually brushing my teeth.

Furthermore, when I was 11, my little brother got caught stealing cookies. Once his guilt was made public, I stole cookies to my heart’s content and he got the blame. I still feel bad about that.