Another former "pyro" here--my older sister and I used to twist up binder paper in our BEDROOM and light it on fire, just for fun. Probably incredibly dangerous but it was not a signifier of anything other than adolescent boredom. And if your kid isn't used to being yelled at, I can imagine being screamed at probably freaked him out.

I wouldn't check him into a mental hospital just yet.

I think if your son is interested in making a fire, take him camping and teach him how to do it safely.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to clear up the thing about the shitting his pants. Did he actually shit his pants? In the literal sense of the word "literally?" Because that makes all the difference in the world.

I think that if he hadn't "literally" done it, OP would have clarified already.

The fire thing may be just experimenting, but shitting himself is extreme. Why is he so scared of your husband??

I love building bonfires. I would find a healthy outlet for him to do this and show him a boatload of fire safety videos beforehand.

OP, you need to clear up the thing about the shitting his pants. Did he actually shit his pants? In the literal sense of the word "literally?" Because that makes all the difference in the world.

Have him do a 5 page research paper about fire safety &, if possible,volunteer on a burn unit or at a fire station.

Here's a link to one of many internet articles about this topic.


http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/firesetting.html

Doesn't anyone remember in the movie Toy Story where the bad kid Syd was burning up toys? I know he was the antagonist and a pretty bad character, but, even in that movie it's presented as typical behavior. Is it possible that OP's ds was copying a scene from that movie?

Anonymous wrote:I guess just about guy I know was emotionally disturbed and sexually abused based on the stuff they burned for fun as teenagers. Unless he's lighting a fire in the middle of his bedroom, it's normal.

+1. Heck, the guys I know still love lighting random stuff on fire. It could be a sign of something nefarious going on, but I think it's more likely normal teen boy stuff.

I guess just about guy I know was emotionally disturbed and sexually abused based on the stuff they burned for fun as teenagers. Unless he's lighting a fire in the middle of his bedroom, it's normal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he spending any time with an adult who may be sexually abusing your son?

Or another kid who may have abused your son? What toys, from which years? Who were they from? Who played with your son when these toys were given?

You're reading way too much into this. Burning stuff is normal. Not safe, but normal.

It's really not normal to start fires. It concerns me that the potential seriousness is being downplayed here. Please read about indicators for emotional disturbance.

...and sex abuse.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he spending any time with an adult who may be sexually abusing your son?

Or another kid who may have abused your son? What toys, from which years? Who were they from? Who played with your son when these toys were given?

You're reading way too much into this. Burning stuff is normal. Not safe, but normal.

It's really not normal to start fires. It concerns me that the potential seriousness is being downplayed here. Please read about indicators for emotional disturbance.