I think I agree with Reid on this. We're never obligated to answer a question, if we think answering truthfully will be detrimental. We can always change the subject (just witness Sarah Palin in Thursday's debate!). I think the mother would be best off telling her child all the true things that matter, i.e. I love you, I'm staying right here with you, you're going to feel better in a minute, everything is going to be allright (which at the scale of eternity is must be true), let's close our eyes and imagine .... whatever, etc. I agree with Reid that telling something that is false, even for a good motive, creates a kind of barrier between people which is too bad. This said, I know it is not always easy to find in the pressure of the moment the right true thing to say which is also diplomatic and definitely beneficial!

Vivian