What happened: I was with my DDs (3 and 6) at the playground, and with a couple who have DCs same age. Three of the kids including my 3 year old were playing on one of those long suspended trunk-like things that you can sit and swing on. After a while two older kids (I'm guessing 7-9 years or so) jumped on and started swinging it really fast and high. My DDs and my friends' DDs got off as they were not comfortable with this. They stood around a while. The two older kids' parents were there and did nothing, and to their credit my DDs tried to ask the kids to slow it down - but the older kids said no. I was concerned that the trunk would hit my 3 year old but she was keeping clear. In that situation, had I been the parent standing nearby and seeing a 3 year old there, I would have asked my own kids to mind the small one.
I let it happen because I was knackered, it was the first few minutes of rest I had had in hours, and I was chatting to my friend. But afterwards, I got hit by a lot of shame. I realised I have failed my kids by not politely standing up for them. It was selfish but at the same time I realise I also fear conflict, and tend to ignore and let things pass rather than risk conflict. I'm not sure how to deal with this - it's so automatic I only realise I have avoided conflict later, when I have that 'uncomfortable' feeling that something is not quite right.
Does this sound accurate? I feel like an awful parent.