I overshared with my young child. Now what?

Post date: 2020-10-23 02:41:16

I mistakenly told my 5-year old information he wasn't supposed to know and definitely cannot share. What do I do now?

I told my 5-year-old son the truth when he asked why I was sad. The truth being a piece of information I didn't realise was being kept from my child's friend by his parents. It's nothing sinister but it wasn't my place to share. (Think along the lines of 'Your friend's grandfather is very ill'.) This information cannot under any circumstances get back to his friend. So now that the cat's out of the bag...what do I do?

It was a stupid thing for me to say, but...what now? I have made it a rule not to lie to him and I am never going to ask him to keep a secret from someone (nor do I know that he could), but aside from never letting him see his friend again, what else can I do? Might he just forget if I don't mention it again? Should I plant an alternate story (an idea I also loathe)? Assume the deception is going to be permanent on the part of the family for reasons that are not my business.

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