It could have been a tragic day

[Lorix2]

A 10 yr boy that lives up the street came over to my son (6.5) and his friend (7) in front of the friend's house and showed the kids a beer bottle with batteries, pine needles and liquid in it with a wick sitcking out of it and in his other hand one of those wands you use to light a grill. He was trying to light it the wind would blow it out and he couldn't.

My friend looked out the window and saw this and told him to leave..she would have taken the bottle, but she wasn't dressed.

The boys came down to my house and told me and also that the liquid in the bottle was said to be just water.

I didn't like it either way and when I went up to his house and asked the babysitter to make him retrieve the bottle, we discovered it had contained GASOLINE!!!!!!!! I was shaking I was so upset by this. Our kids didn't realize it was a big deal.

Needless to say we sat them down and explained what could have happened. I'm glad I went up there now.

About 10 minutes later, the boy and his sister appeared with their babysitter and apologized for putting everyone in danger. They were actually crying. I felt bad for them actually and I told them I was concerned for their safety too.

It's going to be a long summer....

 

[llij]

Wow! It is a good thing you went up to their house to get the bottle. It really could have been tragic!!!! Here's hoping for a very safe rest of the summer!!!

 

[GoofItUp]

Hopefully they will realize that stuff like this is NOT ok and won't try it again. Glad your son and his friend (and the other kid) are ok!

 

[piglet too]

Wow, that is pretty heart-stopping! Did the boy know what he was doing? I know he is 10, but hoping here that he did not really comprehend the danger.

 

[my3kids]

Scarry! Thank heavens the mom looked out when she did, and good for you for going straight to the other house. Very frightening. Where would a 10 year old even get the idea, and if they had the idea, how could they not know it was dangerous?? Other children who didn't know what it was wouldn't have cause to be afraid, but the one that built it....he had to know.

 

[Lorix2]

Piglet - I really don't think he understood the danger. I believe he thought it would be another "sparkler".

 

[Lorix2]

Apparently, he was told by a punk in my neighborhood how to build it and he did.

 

[Hillbeans]

What's a 10 YO doing with a lighter, gasoline, etc??

How scary. Kids these days have access to lots of things we never did.

At least he was scared, and i'm sure he didn't realize that could have been a bomb. I'm glad you explained to them what went on and what could have happened.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

 

[clh2]

Of course I have to ask - and hopefully this is a stupid question(because I am hoping you did that already)...did you talk to the 10 year old's parents? I would hope the babysitter mentioned it as well to them.

 

[mom2boys]

What's a 10 YO doing with a lighter, gasoline, etc??

10 yr old boys are scary creatures. I know, I live with one. They live in the moment & have very little concept of the concesquences of their actions.
All of the items described are common household items. I imagine he found most of the materials in the family garage or shed. Most people with a lawn mower have gas cans around. We also have a stick lighter for our grill in the kitchen drawer.

Thanks for the post. I will relocate my lighter tonight before bed. It is a reminder to the rest of us be diligent in the supervision of our kids this summer.

 

[Lorix2]

clh2 - as a matter of fact, their mother came over to talk about it and apologize. She was just as concerned as I was. I had never met her before, she's a single mom and has to work during the day. I really liked her and she was glad I had spoken to the babysitter. She put the gas can in a locked storage area and hid the lighter for the grill and spoke to them both.

The babysitter was a wonderful person as well, she told her right away upon coming home from work. She really seems to care alot for these kids.

This day had a happy ending, thankfully.

 

[Serena]

Wow, I'm glad it ended well. That's scary.

 

[Lorix2]

mom2boys - yes, a very good reminder to be aware of what you're kids are doing. I never imagined my son would be approached with something like that, but he was.

Thank god it wasn't a loaded gun We talked about that too. My DH was quite shaken when I told him tonight.