My problem simply is there is no justification for what the parents did. They admitted they were "punishing" him, not trying to remain safe as you might suggest could be the case.
I understand your point here and even agree with it, but I can't imagine anything that could convince me what the parents did with their 13 yr old son was justifible under any circumstances.
Do you know of any "punishment" or protection for family safty where it would be warrented to tie up a child to a tree, with sweltering heat oiutside by protective parents over the span of a two day period?
Thats just it, we do not know the whole story, thats why I am with holding judgement.