To expect able bodied pedestrians to be tolerant of ds if he walks into them

[handlemecarefully]

3 year old ds is very independent, and I allow him to walk along the pavement without holding hands (his preference) - unless of course it's a very busy pedestrian thoroughfare where allowing him to 'free range' across the pavement would constitute a nuisance (then he has to hold my hand)!

However in a small market town during the week when it's quite quiet I allow him some measured freedom.

Basically my approach is to be vigilant in case an elderly / frail or disabled person is approaching and I would intervene to avoid him getting under their feet in those circumstances, but otherwise I urge him regularly to 'mind out' or 'look where you are going' - but not every 20 seconds since I am not a drill sargeant major.

So occasionally an adult may need to step smartly aside (when he isn't concentrating) - in which case I smile and apologise.

Is this reasonable do you think?

He bumped into an irritable cow (aged 30's?) this morning and got told in shrill voice "Watch where you are going!"

After goin xmas shopping yestoday I was pushed shoved had a box land on my feet so thought I'd escape to store restuant to sit and have a cuppa/eat While in the cake tea queue I felt a buggy wheel rammed into my legs to turn round and find a 3 year old pushing it while Dad ignored then while carrying tray with hot stuff back to table another youngster [4yr old] chucked her teddy across the room that landed right at my feet [i could have tripped, child could have been burnt/hurt] mum n nan sat chattin n missed it . I don't hate kids in fact I think they're lovely BUT this time of the year peoples patience can wear a little bit thin especially if a child seems to be unattended while parents look the other way which does happen in SOME cases if people are walking round markets/shops thinking about pressies/what to buy/how to afford very often they hav'nt got their witts about them...Patsycline it does hurt when peeps are nasty to YOUR child thou fsad]

omg how old is this fread lol

its night of the living dead fread

yanbu. I went to Sainsbury today and spent a good 20 minutes dodging excited free range children, They are only kittle and I would never be rude to them!

Beanie don't argue with staffy.
she has been working on that point of view since August