This is the first time I have spoken on this topic. I will agree that some of the comments were a bit much ... however, those comments are not why the kids did what they did.
padad, I can understand that you and your wife work very hard to support your family. Raising a family is not cheap ... it takes money, but
it also takes time.
Even though some who work long hours try to spend "quality time" with their children, there is a misnomer that many have discovered when it was too late. Though "quality" is important, it does not take the place of "quantity".
The time we spend with our children is important and should be the best quality we can give them. But time is time ... you MUST spend it to raise children. The quantity of the time is just as important as the quality ... in fact, sometimes it is more important.
As for some of your comments ...
If the keys were not in the ignition,they wouldn't have been able to joyride on it.
The keys not being in the equipment may have stopped them from driving the equipment, but what about the other damage they caused? From what the story reported, they set off fire extinguishers inside vehicles. What other damage was done?
Look at it this way ... if you had some beer in your fridge and came home and found your kid had drunk your beer, would you put all that blame on you because you should not have had beer in the fridge? Or would you expect him to leave it alone because he knows the beer is yours?
Do you hide or lock up your wallet because you don't want him to take your money, or do you expect him to stay out of your wallet?
He should have stayed out of the other the people's equipment. If he had, he would not have known if the keys were in there or not ... and ... he would not be in the trouble he is now in.
You also lamented:
...I probably wasted my time posting on this forum,because everyone seems to already have formed their opinion.
You have also seemed to have formed an opinion ... you are blaming everyone except the boys (and maybe yourself).
I will go so far as this ... if proper values are instilled in your children from the time they are babies on and you set the example of those values, you will have a much better chance of having children that will not make these type of "decisions".
However, if we do not spend time with our children because we are too busy making a living so they can have "stuff" and if they see us doing things that are the opposite of what we have taught them (like cheating on our taxes) they will learn more from what we do then what we tell them.
Oh, and in case you are wondering, YES, I have children. I have four of them and have successfully raised them to be adults. My youngest is 21. None of my children were ever in trouble with the law or have done anything even close to what your son did.
We knew time was needed when we had our children, and we gave them that time. We also had to work and live from paycheck to paycheck, but we still gave them the time and direction needed. We also never blamed others for our shortcomings.
Now, you can decide that all those on here that have agreed that your son was in the wrong have "their" opinion (and yes, I am one who thinks the boys were wrong) and you can continue to blame the mining company, or you can decide that your son is to blame for what he did.
Either way, you and your family now have to live with the consequences and whatever legal action may be taken.
Please don't be mad at all of us because we have opinions as to blame. But, please come back and post the results when this is resolved. Like you said, the news does like to have a "good" story, and they will probably not print the results, especially if the boys are dealt any leniency.
