Hi Jay,
I also have absence seizures. They can be quite frightening to some people because, the person does not respond to their name or a touch on their shoulder. In addition, to how they look during them. Especially for parents. So its understandable. I understand this because, I delt with my parents and teachers anger and frustration at me way before my diagnosis. I was stuck on numerous ADD medications to help me focus when the actual real problem were seizures. Unfortunately, my parents didn't realize it was a medical issue till things got progressively worse both at home and in school. Anyway, I believe he maybe freaking out because, he is in denial that his son has seizures and can't understand why or that these symptoms are actually seizures. He also may not know how to help his son when he has a seizure. Despite knowing first aid. For instance understand what he is actually going through at the moment since he is not the one experiencing the seizure, his son is. He may also not know how to help him emotionally without getting frustrated at his son. Example having a simple conversation with him or studying spelling words. He may not remember what they may have been talking about or what word he was spelling just before his seizure. Which is frustrating to parents because, they may have to repeat what they were doing before hand. Though he is experiencing seizures now does not mean he will have them for the rest of his life. It all depends on the form of epilepsy/or seizure disorder. I have heard on other epilepsy chat groups that absence seizures are common in young children and the majority outgrow them. Here is a link my neurologist gave me to educate myself on epilepsy/seizures. This site http://www.epilepsy.com/ also has information on Absence seizures.