I packed Sprog 2 off to school yesterday, amid feeble protests and further melodramatic coughs. I figured three days at home was enough, for both of us. Besides, the cleaners were coming, plus I had a gym class and lunch with a friend. To increase my chances of attending both, I handed Sprog 2 a $2 coin for the canteen as I waved her off at the school gates. I checked my phone all morning, but it stayed mercifully quiet and I congratulated myself on handling the situation so well. I was driving into the city for lunch when the bloody phone started buzzing. I picked it up – fool – and Denise from the school office announced Sprog 2 was in sick bay coughing and complaining of a sore throat, could I please come and get her? I sighed, pulled over, called my friend to cancel lunch and drove to the school. Once I’d collected her, we had nowhere to go, because the cleaners were still hard at work. So I suggested a party pie at Pie Face and we headed to the local shopping centre. Sprog 2 brightened up considerably at the shopping centre. She hoovered down the party pie and cheerily enquired if we could do some shopping next. “What sort of shopping?” I asked. “You know how you said you’d get me a new camera?” Sprog 2 ventured. “No,” I growled. “I missed out on lunch with my friend to pick you up from school because you were SICK, so I’m taking you home to bed [for a long time].” Husband called to check on her later and I told him how royally screwed over I felt. He thought it was hilarious, but he’s not the one stuck at home, is he? As for Sprog 2, she’s going to school tomorrow and staying there. It’s Mother’s Day Stall day and I want a present. I checked with Denise and Sprog 2’s class doesn’t get to pick its gifts until 12.30pm, which should break the back of the day nicely. By then I’ll be in the city enjoying a birthday lunch with my friend and Sprog 2 can suck it up until home time.
HOW DO YOU TELL IF YOUR KIDS ARE TURNING IT ON OR GENUINELY SICK?
housegoeshome 
My daughter tells me that her school only rings parents , “if you vomit or you have nits.”
That’s the way I remember it from school, languishing in sick bay. Too soft at the Sprogs school, I reckon. Though one mum said she took a while to pick her daughter up and when she got there they’d sent the kid back to class. Maybe that’s the way to go. Delay!
My friend’s mum used to say, ‘Is it the type of sick that a chocolate treat can fix?’ and apparently this trick worked every time 🙂 (though I think she was a little younger than your Sprog at the time)
Sadly Sprog 2 isn’t a fan of chocolate. Perhaps I could try a jelly bean? It’s why I went the $2 for canteen route, thought that would work a treat. Nope.
How to tell?? Hmm, I’m not sure i have any answers for you. I remember throwing sickies when i was at school and sitting in the sickbay waiting to be collected. It was usually if there was some sort of activity that day that i was scared of participating in or if i was having a fight with a friend or something like that. I have 15 month old twins so i have no experience with school sickies yet, but if you ever find out the answer on how to tell if they are genuine or not please let me know!! Did you get to enjoy your birthday lunch? I hope so:-)