The sound every mother dreads is the sound of their child crying in pain.. but what we hate more is the sound of someone elses child crying while ours is silent and looking very sheepish stood next to them. Then comes the inevitable exchange with the 'unknown mother'. This will go one of two ways...

1. You agree that both kids are as silly as each other, no one lost an eye and your coffee is still at a drinkable temperature so lets just laugh and move on. (once the twenty minute bribe for your child to apologise has taken place of course)

2. They look at you with disgust and your child like they are Satan. They snatch their child away and stalk off telling all the mothers along the way that yours is a bad egg. You cry and leave.

Personally I much prefer option 1 but I must confess I no longer cry and leave if option 2 is what i get landed with. I merely say in a loud voice "the best you can do baby is apologise if that's not enough then that's THEIR PROBLEM' .....Pick boy up and run full pelt into the ball pit.