Park Etiquette

Ok parents, I need some help here. Lily is walking up a storm and is LOVING running around the parks near our apartment. She climbs up the ramps and stairs, goes down the slides, jumps on the bridges, and really likes to swing. She still topples down now and again, but always gets back up and keeps on trucking. I let her dig in the sand, pick up wood chips, crawl around in the grass, and generally get dirty. That's what the park is for. 


Lily gets SUPER excited when she sees other kids at the park. Especially when they are about her age. She likes to run over to them with her hands outstretched and starts waving hello while squealing. Slightly intimidating yes, but it comes from a good place. And in her defense, most of the other 14 month olds are doing the same thing. I usually manage to catch her before she knocks any of the other kids down. After I get her to stop running, I usually let her go and more calmly say hello to the other toddler. I stay nearby to make sure no hitting or pushing happens. But almost with out exception, the other mom rushes over, picks up her toddler and goes to play in another part of the park. 


Does this seem weird to anyone else? I remember going to parks when I was a kid and playing with whoever was around whether you knew them or not. That's what the park is for. Getting to interact with other kids. Learning how to deal with other people in the same place. Sharing equipment, taking turns, and having fun with other kids. 


I've tried going to other parks in the area, and the same thing always happens. Am I doing something wrong? Am I the weird mom at the park? Is it just that we're in the city and people are being super over protective? I'm surprised at how stressed out by this I am. I start having anxious, downward spiraling thoughts about Lily growing up to be the weird, anti-social kid because no one would play with her in the park when she was 1 year old. What do I do? I want Lily to be a happy, well-adjusted kid. And she always looks so sad when the other babies go away.