Today I took my youngest out to a local gym. We were waiting to use some equipment and a child about similar age to my daughter punched me in the stomach and then a short while later hit me when she walked past. I never heard the mum say anything but it was clear from her behaviour that she might be autistic (hand flapping) so I didn’t say anything. The child then proceeded to hit another child. Never in the 9 years of having my own children has another child (other than my own) hit me. I suppose I was a bit taken a back more so that the parent didn’t say that wasn’t acceptable but appreciate the child may not have any understanding or concept of what they had done was unkind. It must be hard but when the parent doesn’t acknowledge their child has hurt or hit someone else I found that hard. The other child was clearly upset they had been hurt and for the rest of the session felt like we were having to avoid this child because quite frankly I don’t expect to be hit by anyone (whether adult or child) when I’m out and about.