Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To send DS to school anyway?

18 replies

Tailtwister · 14/11/2013 07:57

DS woke up this morning saying he feels sick. He hasn't been sick at all, his temperature is normal and he has eaten breakfast no problem. Apparently he said to DH last night that he 'wants a week off school'.

We've sent him off anyway, but I still feel uneasy. I don't want to give him the impression he can take days off whenever he feels like it, but what if he genuinely is ill? He doesn't look ill to me, but you never know do you? What if he is ill and passes it onto other children in the class?

AIBU to send him in? Should I have kept him home?

OP posts:
TheOneWithTheHair · 14/11/2013 07:59

How old is he? Is he old enough to try it on?

If he's genuinely unwell, school will ring you.

pianodoodle · 14/11/2013 08:01

Based on what he said last I think you did the right thing :)

He'll get sent home if he's poorly.

itscockyfoxagain · 14/11/2013 08:02

I would send him, but make sure he has been for a poo first and that is fine before you do.
If he is genuinely ill his school will sebd him home in any case if he is he probably picked it up from school in the first place.

Original poster
Tailtwister · 14/11/2013 08:02

He's 5 and although he's quite young he can be quite manipulative when he wants something.

I've emailed his teacher to let her know and cc'd the school nurse so they know the facts and can keep an eye on him. I can be there in 15 minutes if he needs to be collected.

OP posts:
intitgrand · 14/11/2013 08:03

I often feel a bit sick in the morning if I am a bit tired or stressed or nervous, they will ring to collect him if he takes a turn for the worse so I should n't worry- it has probably passed by now.
Might be worth a chat to see why he doesn't want to go to school though!

kelda · 14/11/2013 08:04

YANBU. I've had a similar morning with my ds, also five. He's not sick but he just refused breakfast. Usually he is very good at eating breakfast. I walked him to school anyway, and he said he was hungry so I gave him a banana. He didn't eat it. So he is in school having had no breakfast and I feel awful about it. The teacher just said 'never mind, he can have an extra biscuit at breaktime'.

I feel uneasy too.

Original poster
Tailtwister · 14/11/2013 08:06

It's his first term initgrand so he does get quite tired towards the end of the week. He seems very happy in school, but I will follow your suggestion and see if there's any particular reason he isn't keen to go.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tailtwister · 14/11/2013 08:08

We will be on tenterhooks all day together kelda!

OP posts:
wheretoyougonow · 14/11/2013 08:09

YANBU I only worry if breakfast isnt eaten. The school will soon tell you if he needs picking up. Try not to worry.

valiumredhead · 14/11/2013 08:09

Maybe him saying he wanted a week off school is his way of yelling you he feels ill?

valiumredhead · 14/11/2013 08:10

Telling

Original poster
Tailtwister · 14/11/2013 09:03

You could be right valium...it's so hard to know. Of course if I knew for certain he was ill I would keep him off in a heartbeat, but I don't want to give the impression he can just say he's unwell simply because he doesn't fancy school that day.

I suppose time will tell. I've heard back from the school nurse that she will keep an eye on him (her office is right near his classroom) and she will let me know if he becomes ill during the day. Barr that, I don't know what else to do.

OP posts:
kelda · 14/11/2013 09:16

You've done the right thing tailtwister. You can't keep him home when you don't think he is sick.

I was desperate to keep ds home this morning but I knew that he had to go in. He needs routine and consistancy.

Original poster
Tailtwister · 14/11/2013 10:00

I hope so kelda. It's very hard as when he was in nursery I would probably have kept him home to be on the safe side. School is different though isn't it. I hope the day passes fine for your DS. It's hard when you just want to keep them home and mother them!

OP posts:
DeWe · 14/11/2013 11:26

For my dc saying they "want time off school" is, assuming there's no evidence, a passport to being sent in. In my experience they will give you symptoms if there is anythign wrong.

If you let them stay at home one day when they tell you they think they should, then they'll try it on again.

Ginocchio · 14/11/2013 11:36

Tailwister at that age I feigned a stomach ache to get a day off school. Mum was not best pleased when I suddenly recovered at 9.30...

Mind you, I learnt my lesson a couple of months later when she sent me to school with a fractured arm - she thought I was just trying to get another day off...

EdithWeston · 14/11/2013 11:49

Unless mine had a definite symptom (rash, temperature, D&V) I'd send them in. I found that a Dc who was just a little 'off' would usually perk up on the walk to school. Only once have I been called to pick up a DC who worsened during the day.

SueDoku · 14/11/2013 13:08

My Mum used to say, 'You'll fel better when you're outside' and I thought that she was SOOOOOO cruel Smile

Then I had my DC and found myself saying exactly the same thing..... mainly because it's (usually) true Grin Grin

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread