Quote Originally Posted by jgonc View Post
the word Ребята can have the substitute of "sons"?
"Ребята" primary meaning is "children". Form "Ребятишки" means more clearly "pre-teenagers".
Children can use "ребята" to refer to themselves.

If adults apply word "ребята" to themselves it is like they are long-term friends, from childhood, who are used to refer to themselves as "ребята". Usually it is sign of strong and long-lasting friendship.