Was it wrong for me to call these women bad parents?

Your right for sure. They have no right to call your mother bad, she trusts her kids and is raising you well. That said, I will probably be fairly protective of my baby when she's older. I know it's just as safe now as it was then, safer even cause of cellphones... But you always worry about your child no matter what. Your mother shows more courage than some by allowing her children out of the yard. You are definitely right (maybe a bit... Over reactive lol) but definitely right. It's hard to let kids go though, you always worry. They were wrong, but it's impossible for them to see it that way.