I'm new to these boards, but I have a situation that I'd like some feedback on.

This morning my DS woke up "doubled over" with a stomach ache and moaning like a coyote. A dose of Pepto Bismol and a shower didn't seem to cure his ailment. When I mentioned that he probably wouldn't be able to attend a sleep-over/birthday party he was invited to this evening, he insisted that if he stayed home from school, he'd feel better by the afternoon.

After telling him several times that he wouldn't be able to go to the party if he didn't go to school, he came to me a few minutes later and confessed that he wasn't sick, but that he didn't want to go to school because he was supposed to do a memorized poetry reading in front of his class and he didn't want to do it. He assumed that if he stayed home from school...he'd get out of it.

I'm obviously unhappy that he lied, even though he did "fess up." I'm afraid that he'll start concocting more elaborate lies over time and I won't ever be able to trust him. He's 10 and in the fourth grade. I told my DH (who's away on business for a few days) and he said we'll discuss it with DS when he returns, but I want to make sure I handle this correctly.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Sharon in NJ