How Clever Is Too Clever?

We're having some issues with some very clever lying. An example: yesterday I was upstairs and Providence down when she starts crying, I come down the stairs and she's crying and telling me that the cat bit her. For those of you that know the cat, this is not far fetched, it happens multiple times a day, we both sport constant injuries from Scrump (if you are wondering why kittens name changes so often I explain here), so it would not be far fetched at all. While this would seem very probable, it was in fact a lie, I know this to be so because Scrump had been curled up with me sleeping upstairs for the last half hour. Why would she lie about this? I told her that Scrump had been with me and couldn't have bit her, and that it's wrong to lie, she meanwhile, is still sobbing about the "bite" and without missing a beat changes her allegation to the couch (which sounded alot like cat through the tears) scratching her. What?!!! Furthermore she insisted that she was NOT lying. I remember being a teenager and lying to my parents, insisting that I wasn't. As bad as I felt about lying then, how terrible it feels on the other end. I did not want to accuse my daughter of lying when she said she was telling the truth even though I knew she was lying. I said a quick prayer with a heavy heart and just did it. After some tears she did admit to lying, and wanted a pardon because she did tell the truth after all, albeit a little late. I was firm and did not grant the pardon, though I did praise her for telling the truth even when she knew there would be consequences. Raising kids is very scary; I am always wondering am I doing the right thing? Did I handle that in a godly manner? What can I do so Providence will desire to honor the Lord? Ultimately, I know, it comes down to the graciousness of our Lord, and that I need to make sure I am trusting and honoring Him. But I sure would appreciate prayers for me to reach heart issues rather then just dealing with the surface.