Can you imagine being this child's parents?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071031/ap_on_re_us/california_wildfires

How would you respond to this if you were they?

Answer 1

What a difficult time for these parents and their son. No matter how closely we try to watch kids, you can't be with them every second. The best we can do is teach them right from wrong and how when we do things, there are consequences. I don't know all the details, I can't pass judgment on them.

This is a tragedy and I hope that the boy will get the help he needs to cope with what he has done. Our children may be growing up more quickly these days in many ways, but many of the things they need to know to be productive members of society are not being taught.

Answer 2

Just goes to show that parents need to educate their children about the dangers of things such as matches and teach them that matches are off limits.
Parents also need to be educated on how to store dangerous things out of the reach of children. Also parents need to know where their children are and what they are up to at all times. I did with mine!!
The child quite possibly knew that playing with matches was the wrong thing to do but I don't think he would have any real idea of the devastating consequences of his actions. A child might think of a 'bonfire' type of fire but not a huge destructive bushfire that would end up destroying lives and property.
By all means the child and his parents need to acknowledge what has happened and take stops to ensure this sort of think doesn't happen again.
Education instead of punishment is what is needed here.

Answer 3

Depends on the age of the boy. At the age of 8 or 10, this young lad burned off 40 acres of hay (wouldn't been more if neighbors hadn't come from the sky to help out) if granny hadn't been there my dad would have killed me many times over. As a result I had to live with what granny laid down; "Ben, the boys been punished enough" (she was right). As a parent I'd shallow hard and hope that I wouldn't have to file bankrupcy-- I'd have to think of something for the boy (if necessary), but he wouldn't be up for public ridicule.

Answer 4

OMG, I honestly can't say what I would do.
Didn't people die in that fire?
They never said how old the child was, but I know he would be in deep stuff at my house.
I really just can't imagine anything short of strangulation
I'm sorry, I was never one of those Mother's who said, "Not my Child". It was more like,' You did what?"

Let's put it this way.
Years ago my husband and I were finishing the construction of a Marriott. It was a weekend, so my son Travis was with us, I guess he was about seven.
Travis told me he was hungry, so I told him to go and jump in the truck and we would go and get a happy meal. In the mean time the owner of the hotel walked in and we had to stop and chat with him.
In the parking lot was my son sitting in our brand new truck. We hadn't even made the first payment.
Needless to say Travis got bored, found a lighter and set fire to the door of our new truck.
There was no happy meal that day.
Travis was normally a good kid and hardly ever got disciplined. This was not a good day for Travis. Though it broke my heart, I paddled his little behind. He stayed in major trouble over that one for several months

Answer 5

There are such scant details concerning this at present....but regardless, I know the parents must be devastated that their son was involved in such destruction [not all of it though, as they have someone 'of interest' they believe purposefully set some of the fires].

Many kids [and good ones] have played with matches during their childhood - this one just did so at the very worst time and place possible.

I am wondering what the outcome will be - will the child be charged? How old is he? Will the parents be held responsible in some way? - financially or otherwise?

Answer 6

I can imagine. 30 years ago my brothers stepchildren set a fire behind their apartment building. The corporation sued them for several hundreds of thousands of dollars. I fwelt some guilt because just the weekend before we had taken the boys camping and taught them how to build a camp fire. But their mom should have kept a better eye on them also.

Answer 7

But it was an ACCIDENT!!!!

I don't know how I'd respond. I'd certainly be disappointed in my child and worried sick that he's a little arsonist. Or that his behavior will escalate into other things. I'd definitely keep a tight rein on his little a s s.

Answer 8

I'm sure that they are heart sick! I wonder, because the child is a minor, if the parents will have to face some sort of charges.

Answer 9

Those poor parents. even with the best guidance in the world things like this happen and it is just awful for all concerned.

Answer 10

Wow! I would be very upset. I'd probably send him away and make him pay for all the damages. Actually I don't know how to respond to it. And now they also think there is another suspect. Things that make you go...Hmmm..........