To think this is worrying?

[worriedmumishere]

So my son is 3 ( 4 in June) he goes to nursery in my daughters school. Me and husband no longer together and he sees the kids when he's not busy if and when it suits. Anyway today I take my son to nursery and was helping him write his name as they do every morning and my sons little friend comes over for a little chat ( I'm good friends with his mum too)
And my friends little boy asks my son ' where is your daddy' or something along those lines because they rarely see my ex in school so his friends probably forgotten what he looks like ect.
Then I don't hear my sons respiratory SE properly but his friend said ' your dad has not died' so it seems like my son told his friend that his dad has died 😯
Now it may make you laugh in the moment but think about it I'm quiet worried as to why my sons saying these things. Is it because he's secretly affected by his dad not being around as much deep down of do you think j he was just being silly? It made me sad that he feels this way

*i don't hear my sons response properly it was meant to say

At this age he may have just said it to explain his absence. Ask him

Oh I would be worried about this too. Have a chat with your ds when he home from nursery about daddy and feelings etc and then let his dad know.
It will probably shock him into realising being their for his son when it suits him isn't what's best for your son. Do they talk on the phone before bedtime? Or video call daily?

How long were you together before you split up? And how often does he see his dad now in comparison?

Don't forget a four year old has only lived approx 200 weeks, whereas a 24 year old has lived approx 12,500 weeks.
So a week seems wayyyyyy longer to a little one.
I know its obvious but we tend to think once or twice a week visits to a child who used to live with us is enough, when actually it seems like a Reaalllly really long time when you're a kid.
He may need that extra reassurance that he us wanted and missed by his dad because he is probably missing his dad way more than he shows.

You are reading too much into it. Does your 3yo have experience of death? He probably does not know the meaning of dead. In his head he might think it means "gone".

Children sometimes need to be given stock phrases to use when other people ask questions, especially other little children who have zero concept of other people's lives being different to their own.

"My dad lives in a different house. I go there sometimes."

Loads of children never have their dad come to nursery: work timings, not interested, forces, etc.

You are reading far too much into the other 3yo's question and your son's response.

My children made up all kinds of nonsense at that age (including people dying). I wouldn’t be concerned unless it continues.

Also possible that the other child misheard him.

One of the DC once told their HT (in the same school I taught) that I was definitely having a baby. HT took me to one side a couple of days later and politely mentioned that I ought to think about announcing it since DS already had; I was mortified because I was absolutely not, but at 4 years old who knows what had gone on in his head to make him think that?

4 year olds say odd things; speak to him openly and honestly and try not to make him feel guilty for saying what he said; he's just a little boy trying to make sense of his world.

Usually when people have died others say “they’re not around anymore” maybe he’s just picked up on the fact his dad is not around much and got confused . He’s only little

I remember taking my 3 year old sister to the supermarket where she got chatting to an elderly lady while I packed things onto the conveyor belt, standard conversation how old are you blah blah blah when my sister says to the lady "I'm sad because my sister has just died" well the lady didn't know what to say and gave her a cuddle looking mortified, she passed her condolences on to me also. I was the only sister!! And no deaths at all at the time. I asked my sister after why she had said it and she just laughed and said "because" strange minds at that age but I wouldn't worry too much.

Your son might have said "in bed"

When I was in year 3, so around 7? I think , I remember telling my teacher, my mum died, and the lady picking me up is my auntie.

My mum still to this day, gets upset.

I don't know why I said it? And neither does my mum

Kids say all sorts of silly things. I would ask him about it but wouldn't worry too much.

It might just be that he has a bad grasp on the definition of dead. Perhaps he has asked previously what "dead" means and been told something like "it means someone's not there anymore".