Pyromania

There is something about boys and fire.  Perhaps it is the danger factor.  Or maybe it is simply an innate fascination.

Over the years I have heard many stories from friends who exhibited the same behaviors in their youth as my son.  "Yeah, when I was his age I blew up....."

According to the experts, some children and adolescents feel pleasure or gratification when setting fires or witnessing the consequences of fire.  In addition, these kids are also fascinated with matches, lighters and curious about their use and consequences.  Scary stuff for a mom.


The fascination was initially observed when we had to light candles (Grant would always volunteer for this),  start the campfire (Grant would always volunteer to be involved with this and continue stoking the fire), and on the Fourth of July with the occasional fireworks and M-80's.


The culmination of this risky behavior presented one day in our neighborhood.  Grant and a friend concocted a mix (with propellants and all)  that started a fire in the middle of the street (around the corner from our house).  A woman in a car actually drove over the fire as she rounded the corner.  The boys took off and the woman in the car found two of our neighbors chatting in the street.  She said, "Did you see any boys running away from here?"  My neighbors simply pointed towards our house and said, "Yes, and he lives right down there."  I love my neighbors.  We are community mothers.  A knock at our door with an irate woman ensued.


Fortunately, we live close to a fire station.  I was livid.  I marched my son up to the fire station and knocked on the door.  When the fireman opened the door I said, "My son just started a fire and I'd like to speak to your Captain."  All of the firefighters were great.  They took my son into the house and after telling my story with much angst, the Captain took Grant and sat him down in the rig out in the garage.  They were in there chatting for quite some time while I nervously waited.


When they were done, the Captain said he and Grant had a good talk and that he was referring him to mandatory classes at the Burn Institute of San Diego.  He would have to attend the classes on fire safety.  If he was ever caught setting a fire again, he said "It would be juvie." 


Fortunately, there never was another incident though my son still has the fascination and at any given opportunity will gladly partake in starting the fire in the fireplace, lighting the candles, or igniting fireworks.

Photo above of Grant and dad camping with a big fire, of course