Was I wrong to let this child on a scooter past?

[BluthsFrozenBananas]

I was walking DD home from from school this afternoon when I heard a scooter coming up behind us. I did what I always do when I hear a scooter, which is step aside and let the child go ahead of us. As the child came past I recognised him as a little boy who'd moved up from nursery to reception this year. A few seconds later I heard running feet and the boy's mother and older sibling came past, as she went by me the mum snapped "you shouldn't have let him go in front of you, now I can't see him" .

I always let scooters past because firstly this section of the road is quite steep and on more than one occasion either DD or I have had scooters crash into us, I'd rather have them in front of me than nipping at my heels, and secondly the pavement is narrow, only just wide enough for an adult and child to walk side by side. Often when people don't move aside children overtake by riding on the curb stone, the road itself is pretty busy and a child misjudging and pitching off the curb into the path of a car is a terrifying thought.

I don't think I was BU letting the boy past, but on the other hand he didn't actually ask to come past by saying excuse me so maybe his mum had a point.

Her child is not your problem. If she wants to let him scoot she needs to be able to keep up with him. Stupid to let children scoot on busy narrow paths anyway.

You should have just said that she should have instructed her child to stop if he came up behind people and wait for her.

It's not you, she was BU. She shouldn't let him get so far ahead.

She was probably panicked which accounts for her rudeness.

It is her responsibility to keep her DC safe and within sight. If she cannot do this; or he is not yet capable of steering accurately, having at least some consideration for other pavement users, and following instructions about staying close; then she should really be putting the scooter away other than to play with in a park until he is properly ready.

Stupid twat shouldn't have bought the scooter with her if she was worried about her child potentially scooting out of sight or in the road.

Not your problem op. Yanbu.

You were being polite. I can't see how you could have known that she was far behind him or that she would have a problem with him going past you.

She should have shouted him back rather than letting him go on ahead, in fact it sounds like when she could have been calling him to safety she chose to scold you instead for not parenting her child.

Good on you for not making him ride on the curb or road. She's clearly a cow so don't even give her a second thought.

Not your problem. He should have had clear instructions from his mum, or not have been on a scooter at all if he couldn't follow instructions. Ignore her.

She was U.

I'm sure she was panicked, she came flying by us. The thing is I see her pretty much every school day, hence knowing that her DS is in reception. I think I'm going to have to say something to her about not letting him get right up behind us (or anyone else) on his scooter.

Yanbu. I'd have done the same. And YY, her child and her choice to let him scoot home from school. I imagine she was panicking and took it out on you.

The boy's mum was being unreasonable, not to mention ridiculous.

I wouldn't have moved but not for safety reasons. The other woman was unreasonable.

Don't say anything. He is just in reception and she is just learning school run management. Roll your eyes if he bangs your heels, otherwise smile sweetly smd ignore.

It is her responsibility to keep her DC safe and within sight.
This ^
You might want to approach her next time you see her, and suggest she keeps him closer. If he can't be trusted not to pass other people, he surely can't be fully trusted not to ride into the road?

Not your problem. I would also move out of the way of a scooter.
She needs to set her child boundaries. Scoot up to next lamppost, when I say your name you must stop etc. If the child can't follow those instructions then the scooter gets removed.
I can't abide other parents, who haven't got full control of their children, projecting on other people. And I speak as someone who has a young child who doesn't always follow my instructions when we are out. I've never decided to blame a person in front of me who he has scampered past even if they can hear me calling him and hurrying after him.

If she's like a load of school mum's I know, she will spend the next 4 years or so constantly yelling at him and probably make no end of pointless threats about grounding him but never once insist that he stays right beside her or holds her hand.

And using his scooter probably gets him there without whinging about tired legs, but she needs to actively teach him better boundaries other than hoping people don't leap out of his way when he hurtles towards them.

Unintentional apostrophe, there. My phone's a numpty.

The mother was very rude. She shouldn't let the boy use a scooter if she has no control over him while he's on it. We have rules for scooters. My kids can only go 10 feet in front. Must stop at curbs and driveways and people. Disobedience means the scooter gets put away for the week.

Ridiculous, it's the mum's responsibility to parent her child not yours! I wouldn't give it another thought. I sometimes let my DDs ride their scooters, with the clear rule that they are not to get so far ahead that I can't see them.

How were you to know not to let him past? She either needs to keep up with him or 'train' (for want of a better word) him to stop when she tells him too, which is what I do with my dd and the rule is if she doesn't follow instructions then she doesn't get to ride her scooter to/from school. Seems to work well.

Honestly pay it no mind, you did nothing wrong.

Scooters on the pavement are a PEST. I've had to jump out of the way of children allowed by their parents to get out of control.

YANBU. The other parent was.

I wish scooters were just banned from pavements. What's wrong with walking? it doesn't have the potential to harm pedestrians.