What Would You Do?

[Beach Runner]

I agree with PeaPod here - Sadly, my sister would be the first to defend her little darling.

It is a tough one JR - but I am sure you and your family will do what is right - you have to live with your decisions - none of the rest of us do.

I have a moral issue happening in my extended family right now and have be wrestling with it for sometime - no one can make these decisions for you.

We'll be thinking of you. Much of the time life sucks (and then you die), so you just have to cherish all of the non-sucking times.

 

[Beachlover2]

BR


Thank you so much for your thoughts - it actually brought a tear to my eye. This really has been one tough decision - but you are right - you definitely have to enjoy the good times while they are happening - my husband - son and myself are so blessed in so many ways. All you have to do is look around you at others to put your own problems in prospective.

Thank you!!!!!

 

[Rudyjohn]

I really didn't mean to sound as harsh as I did but it infuriates me that we as a society coddle our children so much, even when they do very bad things. My first thought was that what happened to your son could easily have happened to my 17 year old daughter. She's always on her bicycle and we live in the city where there could easily be hooligans like the ones who took pot shots at your son and his friends. I'd have been heartbroken if my daughter came to harm like your son could have (one of those there-but-for-the-grace-of-god is what saved your boy, I'm sure). And yet you were thinking about possibly jepordizing scholarships...an admirable, charitable, and misplaced gesture on your part. It is a disservice NOT to punish, because it sends the message that there are no consequences. It also sends the more worrying message that good people like your family can be frightened into silence (I'm referring to what you said about those teens going to the same school as your son). This could make the teens who did this deed feel very powerful, which could lead them into even worse behavior...after all, if they weren't stopped when they were only "horsing around" what and who could stop them later on down the road?

JohnRudy, if your son hasn't already read Harper Lee's story "To Kill A Mockingbird," this could be an opportune moment. It's a powerful and appropriate story.

He's actually read it twice. It's one of his favorite books. This is probably one of the reasons he is the way he is most likely.

 

[Rudyjohn]

That's a tough one. A real moral dilemma.

I'll have to say that I'd want to protect my child against negative repercussions from pressing charges.

And it is a moral dilemma to me. An easy conclusion for some just dosen't come that easily for me, I guess.
Anyway, I talked with him about the real possibility of them being at his high school. He said he had no problem with that because he could always go to the Dean. He's much less intimidated by any of this than I thought he'd be.

 

[Franny]

I agree with the "Press charges". If they have never been in trouble before they will only receive probation..sounds like they need supervision. If they have been in trouble before, and I would be surprised if they have not, they could spend some time in kiddy jail, but would recieve counseling and supervised probation. In the long run these kids would benefit from your involvement. And if they give your brave son any problems the probation officier could be notified, etc. Hope this helps...I was shaking from anger reading this. I am so sick of kids running wild with no consequences. Oh and they were driving..that is even scarier..ok I'll stop now and will be thinking of you all.

 

[Rudyjohn]

I agree with the "Press charges". If they have never been in trouble before they will only receive probation..sounds like they need supervision. If they have been in trouble before, and I would be surprised if they have not, they could spend some time in kiddy jail, but would recieve counseling and supervised probation. In the long run these kids would benefit from your involvement. And if they give your brave son any problems the probation officier could be notified, etc. Hope this helps...I was shaking from anger reading this. I am so sick of kids running wild with no consequences. Oh and they were driving..that is even scarier..ok I'll stop now and will be thinking of you all.

Thank you...

And thanks to everyone's very helpful advice!

 

[Beach Runner]

And it is a moral dilemma to me. An easy conclusion for some just dosen't come that easily for me, I guess.
Anyway, I talked with him about the real possibility of them being at his high school. He said he had no problem with that because he could always go to the Dean. He's much less intimidated by any of this than I thought he'd be.

Strong kid. You should be proud.

 

[ktschris]

:clap_1: You should be very proud! From this side of the screen it's easy for me to say, show him the right way and follow through. More times than not, the right way is NEVER the easy way. I guess it's a good reminder to us all.

 

[peapod1980]

We'll be thinking of you. Much of the time life sucks (and then you die), so you just have to cherish all of the non-sucking times.

BR, I think you have a t-shirt slogan on your hands!

 

[Jim Tucker]

Can you get the offenders' names? It might be good to get an idea where they live and what kind of parental situation they have. if you are able to talk to parents you might get helpful info.