well, i don't think you should give a stuff what the other people are thinking! but i do think you should do what feels right to you & what you think will benefit your DS in the long run. fwiw, i think lots of children at our LOs age do similar things - especially the boys. i know it doesn't help you feeling terrible - a friend who has a little girl that gets a bit boisterous said to me that she feels so bad it's like it was an extension of her own arm that pushed or hit another child. that summed it up perfectly for me - i feel terrible every time it happens esp when my DS is a loving, gentle little person for the most part.

i think it's tough until they can communicate a bit better to really know that they understand why what they did was wrong but i do think it's important to be consistent in your approach & staying calm & not yelling is a good example to your DS on how to handle a situation & stays focused on the issue rather than becoming an emotion-charged yelling match. i try to give DS alternative courses of action as well - if i can see that a push has resulted from frustration, then i try to explain how he could have just (for eg) said no or please move etc. i really hope it's sinking in!

i think it's even harder to deal with when you are filled with PG hormones as well.