Is there a difference between lying and making up an excuse when it is done to protect your child and their feelings? Situation: Your child is being picked on by teammates for his performance on a sports team. He wants to take a break from an upcoming game at the end of the season. Is it lying or making an excuse to let the coach (who is not a sympathetic supporter) know your child is "sick, we're out of town, something urgent came up..." I know you don't want to set an example to your child that lying is ok, but telling the coach the truth, who I have no doubt wouldn't take it out on my child in some subtle way, is not protecting his already damaged ego and self-esteem.
I don't want to make excuses for sin, but is there an Orthodox concept that lying or not telling the whole truth to protect someone can be acceptable? I know this isn't life or death, but it's awfully hard to not feel that way when you have a child who comes home sobbing and devastated after a game.