So I have been going over this for a few days now and it is STILL bothering me a lot. I cant seem to move on from it and still think about it at night.

On sunday afternoon I took my two boys (DS1 aged 3.5 and DS2 aged 1.5) to the local park. It is a fairly big sand based playground and the kids wander around enjoying their free play time.

shortly after we arrived, they had as expected gone to different areas of the park but i was still within 15m of each of them. DS2 just walking around checking things out and DS1 playing in the "castle".

I turned around and saw DS1 slap a girl (probably about 5 years old) and i yelled out to him to stop and started walking towards him to deal with it. (not knowing what had instigated the slap - i wasnt sure if he was retaliating or not.. who knows at that age!) As i was walking over the girls mother grabbed my son and threw/pushed/shoved (how ever you want to word it) to the ground and held him down with one hand while getting angry at him about what he was doing. I ran over to them and yelled out to her to LET GO OF MY SON! and that i was coming over to handle it and no way should she ever touch my child! She then proceeded to yell "well if he is that naughty maybe somebody should be handling him like that". i just repeated dont ever touch my child and walked off. She was there with two other mums who all then continued to give me horrible looks.

DS1 was beside himself screaming and crying and i settled him down, grabbed DS2 and we left the park straight away. I was really rattled by it and rang hubby on the walk home and actually started crying i was so upset.

Know i DO NOT condone hitting and I would have made my son apologise to the girl and he would be punished accordingly, but becuase of what this mother did that didnt happen. I spoke to him later about it and he did get in trouble as he says he just didnt want her playing in his castle. So yes, it was him being naughty.

Am i being ridiculous with this, is this what other moms would do? I think if i was in the opposite position I would be more inclined to pick my DS1 up and move him from the child that was hitting. I would never touch another persons child.

I just need to hear other peoples opinions on this to try and i dont know.. i am not sure what i want.. i just need to process it all i think.