School calls, child is ill but it is a lie

[Impossibleisland]

Granny arrived yesterday to stay with us until Friday. The kids love her and don't see her enough they wish as she lives far.
Anyway, my six year old son this morning cried while leaving the house and he said he didn't want to go to school to play with granny (whom was staying with my other son, 4 year old that will start reception on Thursday). My husband took him to school and I went to the office. I texted my husband and he said my son was, also in the car, complaining he wanted to stay at home to play. At 10.30 I get a call from school telling me my son complained stomach ache, he was nauseous and "you know, there is a bug going around. Please come to pick him up." My husband picked him up, he told him he could not play with granny but he could stay in bed all day if he was sick. He had a nap in the morning. At lunch time he declared himself recovered!!! I am furious!!!!!!
It was just a big lie.
We are going to have a big discussion later. I am sorry he has done something like that. He loves school, he performs well, but this is not acceptable. Luckily my husband was working from home today but what if he hadn't?
He must understand he has done something wrong. He loves his football class on Saturday morning. Would it be too much not sending him for a week? He needs to understand he can not pretend to be ill. Also, should I speak to teacher to tell to make sure he is really ill? This was the first ever time he has done it and I would not like him to be labelled as liar.
Am I overreacting?

You don't know it was a lie, he said he was ill, he napped in the morning, probably woke feeling better. Maybe he was overtired from the excitement of granny arriving. Give the kid a break. I'd happily give my DC a day off school to send with Granny (she lives abroad) if she visited during school term.

We all have days we don't want to go to the office, just last week I was awake until 2ish then up for 5ish to get ready for work, I just couldn't do it, so took a sick day, even though I wasn't actually "sick" just super tired, I had a nap and woke up when DH rang me to see how I was, grrrrrr.

agree with vitalstatistix.

my dd is off school with anxiety at the moment. feeling sick etc. Not saying it is always that of course, but at six he obv got him self into a state. Esp being sensitive.

don't keep on at him about it for gods sake.

I'd have probably let mine have the day off to be with his Grandma tbh, especially if he hardly ever sees her.

I am probably an unfit mother but there you go

I certainly wouldn't have been angry with him. He's 6!

He's very young to be angry with and if he had a nap it's possible tht he did feel a bit ropey. Personally I'd have kept him contained (and bored stuff) for the day! Do have a chat with him about it but don't be too harsh. He may well have felt like he was missing out knowing that everyone was home and not him and that could have made him anxious. In children that would make them 'feel poorly' so go easy on him OP

I once held my forehead on a radiator for ages to make sure it was piping hot. I then called my stepmum in to tell how I couldn't go to school as I felt really ill

Kids are wily.

I should clarify that I'm not a pathological liar now. Quite the opposite

Standard Six year old, acting with out think through the consequences.

No point in getting very cross for a single offence. Talk to him firmly and explain it will be no TV and no football if he's tempted to try it again.

No point in dragging him back to school, they won't thank you for the disruption or giving the other DCs ideas. Also our secretary was really twitchy about DCs who felt slightly sick, I'd have got the Spanish Inquisition as to being absolutely sure he was fibbing.

When my dgs was 5 he heard his mum tell the teacher that I was picking him up that day, at about 10 I got a call from the school saying he was really poorly !!!!! rushed to collect him imagining all sorts, five minutes down the road he informed me that he really wanted Nanny.
We spent the day cuddled up watching fireman Sam, his mum had a firm chat with him and he has never tried it again. we had to admire his acting skills

I hope you don't ruin his week with grandma going all hard line with him. Poor little lamb, he maybe convinced himself he was feeling Ill as he so wanted to be home. They have good imaginations at that age.

Just to update everyone. He confessed he wanted a play date with granny but he also said he had temperature (strange, as the school told me he was complaining stomachache and nausea ). We had a long chat and then he said "I was so hot!!!...oh, I didn't think about taking my jumper off!!!!" Hahaha! Long chat lots of hugs and cuddles, he has understood the lesson. No further action taken.

I did this as a child, to avoid maths tests and also because of bullying.

Both my DSs did it, one to avoid bullying and the other one because he hates his speech therapy and wanted to avoid it.

They do learn, and I think it's important to find out why they do it, and have a good discussion.