Mean Momma?

I often wonder if I'm just a really mean mother or over protective or something. Today we were at the playground and there were a few other kids there when we got there. One mother had 2 boys, one who was about 3.5/4ish and the other who was probably an old 1 year old. The other mother had 4 children, two who were in the carriage the whole time, a girl who was probably 2.5 and a boy who was probably 4ish.

When I got there the two older boys were running around everywhere. The younger two were playing on the playground. The mother will the two kids in the carriage wasn't even standing near the carriage. The boys came over and started playing with Blake. I tell my sons that they have to stay on the bark mulch. The playground had 2 play areas, a bathroom area, 3 basketball courts, tennis courts, 2 picnic areas and a pond. My boys have learned that they are limited to the mulch and the walkway surrounding the playgrounds.

When Blake was playing with the boys he would stop at the edge of the mulch and watch them run everywhere. The mothers even let the younger two run over near the pond by themselves.

Blake was playing pirates with the boys and 1 boy picked up a long stick and said he was Captain Hook. I do not let my sons play with sticks, never mind pretend to be using swords. I know this might be a bit overprotective, but when I was a teacher I encountered so many children who we desensitized to violence and didn't realize that real weapons actually hurt and kill. They thought it was just fun and games to pretend to hurt and kill things. Then there is the whole thing about running and climbing with sticks and other sharpish objects and the possible injury to self or others.

Watching other mothers who are more lax in these types of expectations often makes me wonder if I'm too strict and overprotective? I'm not the type of mother who wants to keep her sons young. I just want to keep them safe.