Just one of those things?

[GregoryPick]

Forgive me i nearly wrote this as a reverse but I know how annoying it is when people do that. I’m going to try to write out what happened in an objective way (though no doubt I will give myself away) and let please tell me what you think.

It’s the end of an activity for primary aged children. Families are leaving. A small boy (about 4) walks down a flight of stairs.
A latecomer comes in through outside door at bottom of stairs. Door hits small boy in the face.

What should happen? Should the latecomer apologise? Is small boy’s mother right to be cross?
Is it just one of those things or should the person who came through the door late apologise profusely?

Well, was small boy nonplussed by this incident or did he require the air ambulance?

He was very upset. Very tearful

Well regardless of who’s fault it is if someone was hit the person who hit them even if by accident should say sorry

It's only polite to apologise and ask if the child is OK. Doesn't matter whose fault it is (it doesn't seem like it was anyone's fault, just an accident)

I don't see what being late has to do with it.

If I were the person coming through the door that hit the boy, I'd apologise profusely because I'm the responsible grown-up and he's just a little boy. (And make sure he was OK, find his parent, explain, etc.)

I don't know that I'd feel it was actually my fault, as it does seem to be one of those things (unless I'd been careless), but I'd apologise anyway.

Should the latecomer apologise? Yes.

Is small boy’s mother right to be cross? Not really. It was an accident.

Is it just one of those things yes it was

or should the person who came through the door late apologise profusely? Yes they should apologise.

Latecomer should apologise. Mother should not be cross. It is just one of those things. However I'd be cross as a mother at a failure to apologise if someone hurt my child even if it was accidental.

I've slightly hurt a child when it was totally their fault and still apologised as they are a child and upset!

I'm guessing you're the mother as you mention it was a latecomer which apportions a little bit of blame in the first place because it wouldn't have happened if they were on time.

Yes they should apologise but it was an accident and no the parent shouldn't be cross, I've got a 4 year old and am constantly telling her to be careful around doors.

Thank you everyone. Am mentioning lateness because mother wasn’t expecting anyone to come through the door.
That’s why small child was allowed to go on ahead.

Am mentioning lateness because mother wasn’t expecting anyone to come through the door. That’s why small child was allowed to go on ahead.

Then perhaps the mother is feeling a bit guilty, unnecessarily. It was a minor accident, nothing more

Clearly just an accident as you've described it. Door person should apologise out of politeness rather than blame and mother would say don't worry, it wasn't your fault and then focus on making sure the child was ok. End of.

Does the door have vision panels? If not then it really was an unavoidable accident (as opposed to an accident)

If I'd hit anyone with a door I'd be mortified and apologise -regardless of if it was my fault or not.

I'm assuming the child got knocked and it all kicked off!!

It's a door is it not? It might open.

I'd be devastated if my tiny ds got ko'd by an unexpected door. I'd also be upset if I or my child opened said door and caused the injury.

If the assailant's carer didn't apologise, could it be shock or did the scene got fraught or was she just unthinking? It's just what I imagine my personal reaction would entail.

Yes it’s just one of those things, it was an accident, but the person who opened the door should’ve apologised. But the parent should let it go assuming DS wasn’t actually injured and they presumably don’t need to see the other person again.

(And fwiw these “objective” A and B posts are almost as annoying as reverses, just post what happened from your own bloody POV ffs!)

Person coming through door should apologise. Parent who allowed small child to go on ahead should graciously accept apology.

Just one of those things, but I can’t imagine hitting a small child with a door and not apologising and making sure they were ok.
Don’t think it’s something to be angry about though.