Most children - I know I did when I was a kid - fantasize another set of parents. Or fantasize no parents. They don't tell their real parents about that - you don't want to tell Mom and Dad. Kids lead a very private life. And I was a typical child, I think. I was a liar.

Maurice Sendak’s quote reflects the private inner world of children and their tendency toward fantasy as a means of exploring identity and independence. By saying that “most children… fantasize another set of parents” or even “no parents,” Sendak is highlighting a common childhood desire to imagine life beyond the authority and influence of one’s family. These imaginary scenarios are not usually shared with actual parents because they are part of a secret emotional space where a child can experiment with autonomy and self-definition.

The origin of this insight lies in Sendak’s own childhood experiences. As a celebrated author and illustrator of children’s literature, he often drew upon his personal life to understand and portray the emotional truths of being young. By admitting, “I was a typical child… I was a liar,” he acknowledges the tendency children have to craft fabricated stories—not necessarily maliciously, but as a natural extension of their imagination and developing social understanding.

This quote also reveals a deeper truth about the dual nature of childhood: while children live in the physical world guided by adults, they simultaneously inhabit an internal world where they control the narrative. In this inner realm, children can challenge authority, rewrite family dynamics, or imagine complete freedom without fear of consequence. Sendak’s honesty about this process challenges the overly romanticized view of childhood as purely innocent and transparent.

In essence, Sendak is articulating the complexity of a child’s mind, where truth and fiction often blend. His own life, steeped in creativity and storytelling, serves as a testament to the power of that private, imaginative sphere—a space that shapes not only how children see the world but also how they eventually express themselves as adults.