No, you couldn't, because they did not use force to get into the space of your children.

> And no, someone who breaks into a house with the intention of burgling is not an attacker, they're a burglar, regardless of whether other people are in the house.

If they wanted to burgle they'd come when there was no one home. The fact that they came specifically when people are there is because they don't care about doing damage to the people (in which case, yes, they are attackers), or they came specifically for the people.

Really, if a burglar wants something, there's tons of opportunities when the house is empty.

> Someone who breaks into a house with the intention of attacking people is an attacker.

You only find out about their intention after they have done the damage (or lack thereof).

The only clear indication you have of their intent is that they deliberately waited until the people were home.

I am saying it is stupid to wait until after someone has killed your child to defend that child, especially when that person intentionally waits for people to be home.

It's hard to feel sympathy for attackers who wait for children to be home before they break in. If they didn't want to be dealt with as attackers, they should break in when no one is home.