Wow...tough call I guess. I'm going to play Devil's advocate here... You know it does sound a tad rough, but does anyone ever just consider the fact anymore that sometimes Mom's have bad days too. In this day and age mother's are expected to be perfect...Work full time...mothering full time, run errands, clean house, make meals, playdates, classes, be a freind, a wife, a daughter...and never loose our cool from the pressure, when our two year old, or four year old, or whatever does something obnoxious for the umpteenth time. Everyone has limits, even Moms. Not to mention, when you call the police, things like DCFS may get involved...probably not even necessary. How embaressing and presumptious of you. Did you consider the fact that the kid probably had a temper tantrum affter being yelled at and then fell on his knees...I'm not defending this woman's behaviour, but haven't you ever lost your cool with your kids, or are you too perfect? Doubt it!! How would you feel? What about saying jeez I used to hate when my little so and so acted up at that age to her and trying tro diffuse the situation instead? Was she slapping him, or hitting hime and yelling, no. She was yelling, maybe not the best startegy, but it happened.That happened to a freind of mine, after his kids were acting like brats, I think his youngest was probably three or four at the time, and just like you stated about this woman he had had it, and he roughly put the little guy in the car seat, well an onlooker decided to call the police...an official investigation was conducted by DCFS and mandatory parenting and anger management classes were ordered by the court. How embaressing. He is a great father, but he was pushed to the limit...he didn't beat the daylights of kids ever, but he was at his wits end that day. Gosh, when we were kids mothers wouldn't think twice about spanking us in front of everyone, or at least in the bathroom if we acted up. And we wonder why our youth is so messed up...everyone has to "keep up appearances" and never be a human being, our kids our never supposed to see that others have feelings and limits, and that sometimes even us Mom's loose our cool, and that sometime what little so and so is doing isn't cute, it is annoying. Ask yourself,"is this the same kind of woman you would befriend at the park and talk to, or is she the kind of woman you are to good for?" Because the fact is it sounds like you may be feeling like you over stepped your bounds, and are looking for ways to justify you behaviour.