DD is 3, amazing little girl with a big and bright personality. Very creative and loving, also very stubborn and going through a rebellious stage at the moment, which I know is normal for her age.
I took her and baby DS to a local park with a playground, we've done this lots of times before and we only have to cross one small road because it's practically around the corner. Dd was riding her balance bike, I was pushing DS in his pushchair. I gave DD a few warnings in the park when it was nearly time to go home. She initially got on her bike and followed right behind me, then she got silly, left her bike on the ground and ran off.
I initially waited for her to come back because I knew she wouldn't go very far and I could see her. She does sometimes wonder off a bit but always stays close by and makes sure she can see me. She didn't come back and so I did go up to catch her and walked/dragged her until she said she would ride on the pushchair (it has a built-in ride on board for older siblings). Got home within a few minutes, she was suddenly asking about her bike and I explained that she'd left it on the ground so we had to leave it behind.
AFAIK the bike is either still there or someone has picked it up. I'm tempted to go by today to check if it's still there, but I explained to DD that she'd lost the bike because she hadn't listened to me and she ran off. Feeling like a terrible mother but in that moment I only thought about getting her and DS home safely.
DD is extremely smart and does understand different situations pretty well. Will she learn from this or have I done something terrible?