I appreciate this post so much ! I very much agree it's going to far with the "Hovering" I was just at a playgroup this am with 3 kids and my own 13 mo and there was a mom following her 2.5 yo around CONSTANTLY. Everything was padded for gosh sakes and other than a 3 foot high indoor type slide. Needles to say she "OMG GASP" when my 13 month old fell from a ride on car and I felt like the worst mom ever because I did not even go see her. She wasn't crying she moved on on her own ... but then I started thinking ... should I have picked her up just so I don't look like this big mean mom who doesn't care ? hahaha Problem is none of us should care what other people think. But I get it, I also don't go places sometimes just because I fear how people will judge me even though I am 100% capable of handling it. But honestly why visit a playgroup if YOU are the one playing and following your kids 100% of the time. Poor kid never has a chance to play with a child and have experiences of his own.
Thanks for posting hope you guys all have a great weekend!