when first we practice to deceive

My three year old son is learning the fine art of deception. When he's planning to do something he knows he shouldn't, he tells me "Don't look at me, Mommy." Or, just this week, he has started closing the door to his bedroom before he jumps on his bed, removes all the wheels from his cars, or whatever other forbidden act he chooses to engage in. If I open the door and asks what he's doing, he looks at me with his guileless three year old eyes and says "anything" (translation "nothing"). Right now it's cute and endearing, but in the back of my mind I know he is just starting to perfect the skills he'll use when he's 16 and looks me straight in the eye as he denies taking my car without permission, despite the fact that everyone in the neighborhood saw him doing donuts in the high school parking lot. Of course he hasn't quite mastered it... Today when I picked him up from preschool he told on himself ("Mommy, I wasn't being a good listener today and the teacher needs to talk to you") before the teacher had so much as looked in my direction. So I guess I have a few years before I really have to worry. And at least I know I can still trust him when he's sleeping.