Well, 'staying home from school' can mean a lot of different things to different kids. I guess the question then becomes-- what two alternatives is the child choosing between with this statement? Is the statement authentic on some level?
My daughter would do a lot to be allowed to curl up in comfy PJ's in her bed with a book all day and have mom or dad provide her with 'room service' consisting of only stuff she likes-- lying and manipulation would have been a no-brainer to achieve this particular outcome. At some points, I let her. I consider it a mental health day, and she can afford a few here and there.
