This story is beyond horrible; I too feel awful for the parents and families from both sides. Of course this won't be the popular response, but I think it's wrong to set up petitions like this. I just don't believe children should be tried as adults because until they become of legal age "legally" they ARE children and "legally" they are entitled to the rights or protections provided to them because they aren't of legal age. Other than television or video games, children have no real concept of what the ramifications of their actions are. To try them as adults will also have no influence on other kids who have the potential to kill because kids aren't typically interested in these types of stories. If these boys really did what they are accused of doing then they are obviously in need of help. Entering a juvenile facility can provide some hope of rehabilitation that no adult facility could ever offer. As awful as this situation is, I think it's wrong to ask strangers who know little to nothing about a case to sign a petition insisting that two minors be tried as adults. The whole thing just feels like a public lynching to me. Let the people involved who really understand the case in it's entirety make the decisions they've been hired to make.

"I forget: does your SS have any learning disabilities or behavioral disorders?" Ceph, it is hard to say. I think he's very borderline. Granted, he is only in 2nd grade and most LDs aren't diagnosed much earlier than this stage. But each school year, his teachers have all said "he exhibits some signs of ADD, etc, it might be worth getting him tested" yada yada. But they all kind of downplay it, and shrug it off like "could be a problem, could not be." So my theory is if he DOES have some behavioral issues/LDs, they are very mild. He is definitely a young 8. He's always been young for his age, from the start. It doesn't help that he is VERY small (shortest kid in his class) and has a slight build. I feel bad for him because people will meet him and say "let me guess, are you in kindergarten?" OR "are you 6?" It's hard on him. If anything, it has taught me that when guessing a child's age, ALWAYS err on the older side of what you think. Most kids are FLATTERED to have someone think they are older than they really are, but not so much if someone thinks they're younger. Anyway, he kind of acts the same way he looks. He has DEFINITELY matured over the last couple years, so I think he is on his own emotional growth curve, just not sure it's on par with his peers. For example--he sucks his thumb A LOT. Is very into stuffed animals/Littles Pet Shops, etc. I know this sounds bad, but it just seems to me these are things either a younger child or a girl would like, as opposed to an 8 year old boy. So I guess it's not surprising that his language seems delayed. And I DO think a lot of it is BM's poor influence in this area. Another thing he says a lot is "was" in place of "were." As in: "Was my dad and mom there?" (When he really means "Were my dad and mom there?") He's going to be working with a reading specialist 2x a week this summer, so I think DH will speak to her about the language/grammar concerns.

Sephia, one reason is because we know that the father will insist that we don't need to bring a gift. These are wonderful folks originally from another country than the US and, for some reason, he is greatly honored that we are coming despite barely knowing them. His other guests, mostly family, will be bringing gifts and we want to do so, as well. If we ask the father about what the boy might like, we won't get any answers other than "you don't need to bring a gift". We don't want to ask him, get that answer, then bring something, anyway; don't want to risk offending. As far as it being "more insight than a bunch of people on the internet", I've always found people here at the KT to be insightful, helpful, and knowledgeable. As in this case.

You are on the right track to keep it simple and neutral! I would love to get into my grandsons bedroom and give it a good redo for the older child that he is now. He is 9 and his room still harbors many things that he outgrew years ago. I think that it would give him a new view of his own world to change it around and up date it for the older him. Probably would have if this virus had not changed life so much. My daughter, his mother, just does not see the value in this type of thing and it just dismays me so very much.