to expect this woman to actually do something?

[shalaa]

Went to the park with ds(5) and dd(1) last week. Park has a large outdoor paddling pool, ds was paddling away and me and dd were bending over the edge so she could put her hands in the water. A boy who seemed around 7 ran up to us and booted aload of water straight in dd's face. She choked and then screamed the place down, we were both soaked. Watched the boy run back up to his mum, followed him and told her what had happened she said "it's only water and if you don't want to get wet go home". Told her I don't mind getting wet but I do mind getting water kicked in mine and dd's face. She said she wasn't telling her son anything as he's a child and having a fun.

Right, decided to move to other end of pool away from demon boy, he follows us and tries to kick water at me and dd again, go back to his mother who shouts "go home if you have a problem for gods sake" she then says she's watching him and he's just playing, try and point out that actually she's stuffing her face with chocolate cake and not watching her son but then give up and take kids away from pool. Was so f*cking annoyed, felt like tipping her off her chair into a big patch of nettles

Not to hijack but here's how I dealt with the children directly at the paddling pool. Or sandpit rather. Two girls (8-9) came to play with DD1's (5) bucket and spade. Then DD1 was playing on her own, the girls had taken objects about 10m away in another sandpit. I went to them and said "you can share but not take away and ignore DD1". Collected items, went away. TBH I felt a bit of a stroppy cow. Their mum was nearby but didn't say anything. (Or may have been a random stranger not wanting to get involved.)

In the OP's situation, I don't know, I have a 10 y.o. son, they are loud and messy and feel like bulls in china shops around little children. He'd have made a mistake but he wouldn't have behaved like a bully following you around. OTOH it IS just water and if you don't want to get splashed don't get too close to the paddling pool.

"OTOH it IS just water and if you don't want to get splashed don't get too close to the paddling pool"

Like I said, I didn't mind getting splashed it was a faceful of water for me and dd that bothered me and the fact he followed us to the other end of the pool and tried again. He knew there'd be no backlash from his mother. I would have spoken to him after he kicked water in DD's face but he ran straight to his mum and stood behind her smirking.

DS was running around splashing with other children and I don't mind, but if he intentionally ran up to a baby and kicked water in her face than tried to do it again i'd be a responsible parent speak to him and tell him to apologise, not stuff my already substantial backside with chocolate cake!

Yanbu to be a bit annoyed.

Yabu to hold it against her that she´s fat (or has a "substantial backside" or whatever)

Also, you are a bit of a drama queen!

Well I'm just jealous you had good enough weather to go to a paddling pool.We've had torrential rain all day.
I can see how tempting it was to a little boy to splash water in the face of 2 people bent over the pool especuially if he was hyped up and giddy.I would have just told him to staedy on.I think you over reacted big time.

Whoops, sorry Jamie. That usually happens to me, so I sympathise .

You spoke a lot of sense (and wholeheartedly agree about the demonising). How are kids supposed to know what is right and wrong if no-one tells them? (and yes, I include the general public as well as parents here).