Mums, is this weird or am I being weird?

it is a bit unusual, but so kind of you to help out and I hope that this is the start of a new friendship for you (if you want it) with your neighbours. I would have said yes as I can imagine how this will bring some normality into the little girl's life during a time of upheaval. If I was the dad I would be super grateful to you, what lovely person you are.

I've watched numerous YouTube videos and still can't get the hang of it!

I think it’s sweet he asked. He is struggling but wants her to feel good and have her usual style. He could just send her in looking like a scruffball but he’s made an effort

I’d plait the girls hair in a heart beat and also ask them if they needed anything else…
he’s clearly struggling and it’s the least anything with a human soul would do

Clearly stressful situation with an upset young child whose mother is in hospital, she must be terrified. So he's panicked as she's probably been focussing her upset on her hair as this was something her mother did. Yes it's unusual but surely shows how stressed they are. I wouldn't over think it.

It’s lovely you said yes and perhaps this will be the time you get to know their names and get to know them a little better.

Big change for the girl with new baby arriving and expected fright her mom going an ambulance. Can imagine how she expressed this with worry about her hair being done.
So I think it was very nice of the dad to reach out.
Sometimes that all it takes kid could have decided on morning she ok with pony tail.
Ended up connecting with neighbours so that nice to see well done ! Sure you will be happy to know them when need help yourself at some stage.

I wouldn't accept this level of uselessness from my own partner, i would not facilitate it in a strange man. I would absolutely offer to show him how once or twice, but after that, over to him.

I would have said yes without hesitation. But, it's not a normal scenario to be fair.

20 years ago no one would of even given this a 2nd thought but then again neighbours looked out for each other bk then,
Op I don't think it's weird and I think it's nice you agreed bet the little girl was happy to having her hair done the way she likes it.

It is kind of weird but I guess the dad has a lot on his mind worrying about his wife and unborn baby and doesn't want his daughter to be upset about having the 'wrong' hairstyle for school on top of all the other stress that must be transmitting itself to her.

My DD was very particular about her hair at one stage - if one of the popular girls had a certain style they ALL wanted it, and though it seemed daft to me it mattered to her. It is a nice thing to do anyway and you might become friends as well as neighbours. And no, a kid that young probably couldn't plait her own hair, my daughter was about 8 before she could do it.

(I could say FFS why can't a man learn to do a plait, it's not like it's hard, but that's another matter haha.)

OP, you sound lovely. Well done for helping a worried little girl (and therefore her parents too) during a stressful time. Also giving your DP a valuable lesson in not presuming things women do must be easy! 😂
Best wishes to you all.

Imagine if a woman asked a neighbour to do this because her DH was away in hospital.

The responses would be very different, I imagine. Men are just as capable as plaiting hair as women. I would've shown him a YouTube video on how to plait if he'd asked me

Ashamed 😆!

OP can I just say how utterly lovely you are? This is so kind. If I was her mother I would first and foremost be ashamed of my husband but I’d be so touched at your offer of kindness.

He tried. His efforts were not "right".

Dad apparently tried but "it was loose, he started in the wrong place and didn't look pretty!"

Oh well I'm sure she's more concerned about her health and that you of her new born baby!

Good God people !!

his wife is in hospital, a very young child is upset, if you can help, help them

Do her hair.
I work full time, and I would do it

Not weird at all.

When my daughter was that age she had a friend with long hair that had never been cut. When the mum had to go away unexpectedly she asked me if I would do her hair so I met dad in the playground. He had the hair brush and the elastics and I plaited it for her.

When my oldest daughter was in hospital and I was staying with her DH did the other girls' hair with no issues.

It’s my DH.

He cannot even give DD a neat ponytail, it looks awful. He wouldn’t ask a neighbour though!

Good job you’re not then isn’t it.

That's HILARIOUSLY obtuse of him. I would help.

And yes of course he can learn to braid. But I would help. He's being a bit of a ditz sure, but I would not prioritise teaching him gender equality at this precise moment in time.

You sound so lovely OP 🩷

At 5/6 I dont think they would be able to plait it but its abit wierd as he doesn’t really know you and totally put you on the spot. I can only think he doesn’t do much of the childcare and is panicking abit that Mum isn’t there to do it. You would have thought he could either look online and learn or gone with a simple hairstyle like bunches (or asked someone he knows).

I think he’s probably abit overwhelmed but you are being kind doing it.

this