to reprimand my friend's child if she won't?

[DecapitatedLegoman]

Our sons are the same age and play together quite well but roughly, lots of tickling and rolling around and chasing. Her son doesn't listen when mine wants to stop so tears ensue sometimes.

At her house recently her son was hitting mine as we ate lunch, and later he shoved my baby repeatedly. Both times she was there but just pretty much ignored it so I told him off.

I really like her but I feel uncomfortable that it falls to me to deal with this. I also hate confrontation and have convinced myself that she's secretly pissed off with me and is going to want to have it out with me.

I hate the diplomacy side of this having children thing!

You were way softer than I would have been!

After DS asked the first couple of times I would have said 'DS has asked you nicely to stop, now I am telling you to stop' and fixed him with my 'best you listen' glare.

As for hitting/pushing/shoving the baby - he'd only do it once.

The thing is that you probably only have to do it once-after that they look at you a bit warily and don't try-not a bad thing.

DH can't understand what the problem is. To him it's a no-brainer and he'd intervene in a flash. But he's much more natural with kids than me.

Interesting how varied the responses are!