So did I completely overreact....is everyone laughing at me?! :-(

[hazbaz]

Just took DS1 & 2 (5&3) to the playground after school with some other mums. My suggestion, trying to make friends - I'm naturally v shy & awkward & trying to make an effort.

Ended up leaving early because DS1 winds up DS2 all the time, encouraging his friends (four 5 year olds) to chase, roar & generally be mean to his little brother. It's always DS2 the baddie, even when he wants to be on his big brother's team. Today he & his friends were stealing DS2's little boy treasures he found under the trees & made a dinosaur nest with, making him cry. When I tell them to find their own acorns & not take other people's, they find some & start throwing them at DS2.

So I took DS2 by the hand, told him to say goodbye to his friends, brief goodbye to parents with an apology & march home with DS1 in floods of tears.

Are the parents all just laughing at me now? Would you think me a crazy mum :-(

No I wouldn't.

I would also expect mothers of school age children to reprimand them for spoiling a smaller child's game, teasing him and throwing things at him.

Nope, I'd think you were doing everything you can and ds1 is going through a stage. Don't worry

I think what you did was perfect.

Much better to intervene. I think most people prefer to see active parenting at the playground, rather than the sort of parents who turn a blind eye.

I would be impressed!

I would much rather see a parent deal with an incident the way you did tahn the many alternatives.

You made a snap decision, and it sounds like the right one.

Well done.

I wish more people did this. Honestly. Well done.

Gosh, you did the right thing. Don't doubt yourself. The other parents should also have stepped in to get their own little horrors children under control.

I still remember when my DM followed through on 'if you lot don't stop rowing right now, I'm turning the car round and going straight home'.

You did the right thing

You did the right thing. Nothing worse than parents either oblivious to everything or saying sweetly oh we must all be nice to each other, whilst their DC's are causing havoc and ignoring everything.

Thank you everyone, you have reassured me a bit. In the other boys / parent's defence DS2 is very tall, pretty much same height as the youngest 5 year old & I think they forget he isn't as big as them...

You absolutely did the right thing. A similar thing happened with us when my eldest was 5 and youngest 3. I wish I had just come home. Instead I ended up stewing in frustration and cried when I got home .

I'd think you were bloody great! So bored of softy slacky mums with no boundaries. I'd want to be your friend even more after seeing that.

yes definitely the right thing. I have a friend who comes round to mine and spends the whole time threatening to take her childrenhome if they don't do x y or z and NEVER has done. They know it's an empty threat. I know it an empty threat. she knows it is an empty yhrwat. it is a frustrating waste of time and the childrwn are badly behaved.

Yes you did the right thing and many a time I have had to leave early due to something happening.

They have all been there, and honestly sounds as though they should also have stepped in to be honest.

So don't worry about it at all.

I hate seeing this sort of situation and the parent does bugger all. You did brilliantly! X

You did a great job, the other parents should also have told the boys to stop bullying the little one. DS1 one is bullying DS2 and this needs to be stopped. I accept that bullying is a harsh word but being the victim of a bully is harsh.

You showed DS1 that there is a real consequence for bad behaviour, stay strong x

You did great. Want to be my friend?

No of course not. Why would anyone laugh at you for that? Even the best parents have kids who behave badly at times.

My 5 year old DD once had a screaming meltdown tantrum in the park next to school after I told her off for pushing her sister. The park was absolutely full of other school kids and parents at the time. It didn't occur to me that anyone else would give the incident a second thought much less laugh about it. Are you OK OP?

You were spot on - I wish more parents were like you instead of making ineffectual idle threats or ignoring their child's bad behaviour.

I'd think you were a brilliant and engaged mum! Well done

I don't think they are laughing at you. You asked your ds to behave and play nicely with his little brother. He ignored you and he& his friends continued to be mean to your younger ds. The consequence of him being bold were that you left early and his 'fun' was cut short. Next time he (may need a reminder) will remember that his actions have consequences and he should be nicer to his brother/others. You are setting a good example. You're setting clear boundaries of what's accepable behaviour and following through with them. You've nothing to be embarrassed about. These are valuable lessons for your ds.

Good for you OP, in fact I need to take a leaf out of your book. Well done