Final answer:
Steven's parents first react with concern and skepticism upon hearing about the benefit, expressing regret over their parenting decisions and worry about their children's secretive behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Steven tells his parents about the benefit, their first reaction is one of concern and skepticism. The conversation reveals a sense of regret from the parents, indicating they are questioning the implications of their parenting choices, particularly regarding the purchase of a room intended to help their children with emotional problems. The parents express disappointment over what they see as a lack of openness and obedience from their children, underlying their worry that providing everything the children ever wanted may not have been the ideal approach to responsible parenting.
The excerpt suggests that the parents intended the room to act as a therapeutic space for emotional expression, but the outcome seems to suggest that it might be contributing to secretive behaviors, or at least, not mitigating them. This is further emphasized by the parents' conversation about their son's possible tampering with machinery, demonstrating their apprehension about their children's capacity to manipulate their environment and potentially their concern about the children's growing autonomy and cleverness.