It's easy to downplay burns... in the mind of a 12 year old, the more serious the injury, the more serious the trouble.

The thing is after the initial pain, partial numbness can develop.... so he might genuinely have thought it wasn't that bad, and wanted to kind of man up at his mom's suggestion of cold water. The burning returns a few hours later with a vengeance.

If it was just a first degree burn a simple aspirin taken right away would help. Hot soup should do no more than cause a bad scalding (1st degree), but if on a large area aspirin would be a good idea. If already blistering, a doctor should be seen.

I agree the father should be informed, through you if Jessica does not feel up to communicating directly. You are doing a great job mediating them Donna. You are very fair-minded.

waves