Do they have exterminators for "Bold-faced Lies"???

The last 24 hours have been a bit trying in "Thomasville". As a parent, I have three major "hot buttons": not working hard in school, not performing basic hygiene, and being lied to. I have been lucky enough to have gotten a heapin' helping of number three....

Yesterday, my daughter had a friend over. Well, she sort of had a friend over; she had drum lessons with his Dad, and I did some baking with her friend. After the baking/drumming were completed, the kids had some time to hang. I sat with the two of them for awhile, and then excused myself to go sit with the menfolk. Prior to me leaving the table where they were, my daughter had asked if she (like her friend) could have some chips. I reminded her that she just downed a good sized bag of chips at lunch (in addition to 3 of her friend's freshly baked cookies), and that the answer was "no". As I sat in the sunshine with the guys, I heard the distinct sound of chip bags crumpling. I had to decide whether or not to go back in the house, and decided to give my daughter the benefit of the doubt. Later, when wiping down the counters from "cookie time", I found a pile of blue tortilla chip crumbs/pieces on the counter. Interesting, as I had not served those that day. Time to call in the daughter....

Mother: "_____, come down to the kitchen now, please."

Child: "What do you want?"

Mother: "I am wondering why there are blue corn chip crumbs all over the counter? I told you specifically that you could not have chips. What's the deal?"

Child: "( stare that would melt an iceberg)"

Mother: "Look, I'm not dumb. The crumbs are right here....see??? I am looking for the truth here- let's hear it!"

Child: "( blank, rebellious stare)"

Mother: "Alright, you've just lost your iPod for a day for not telling me the truth. I would suggest that you spill it already, or your penalties will compound!"

Child: "( stare-down at the OK Corral)"

Mother: "All right, your bedtime is now 8 (rather than the usual 9). Are you ready to tell me the story behind this?"

Child: (running from the room) "You'remeanandyoujustliketoruinEVERYTHING!"

(Husband follows daughter up to her room. She is told that she can come down when she is ready to explain the "chip incident")

(With loud, thudding steps, Child returns to kitchen)

Mother: "Well?"

Child: " (the "they just can't break me" stare)"

Husband: (to child) "You were told that the only reason you were to leave your room was to explain yourself- well????"

Child: "( the "Mother couldn't possibly take anything else away" stare)"

Mother: "Ok then. Now you have lost your books on CD tonight (Child is addicted to books on CD at bedtime in order to sleep) !"

Child: " (unintelligible screaming, howling, and yelling)"

After the whole "boom boom huckjam meltdown of the century", Child finally admitted that she had helped herself to the chips after specifically being told "no". My husband and I told her that the chips weren't the big issue here; it was the fact that she chose to disobey, and then lied like pinocchio trying to dodge accountability. Some kids might have caved with just the thought of losing a privilege; mine was so stubborn that she willfully managed to lose three of her most important ones before "coming to Jesus".

Lesson to Mother from the whole ordeal: The teenage years are going to be a wild ride, woman, come up with a meditative mantra NOW! Lesson to Child from whole ordeal: When setting out to be deceptive, don't forget to dispose of the evidence of your act!