Mums, is this weird or am I being weird?

Jesus wish I hadn’t opened my mouth. I would agree with you but I don’t like being wrong.

He’s got a young child at home that is wanting her usual hairstyle while worrying about his wife in hospital and their unborn baby! Bit different really isn’t it to your situation

Your mum has advised you?? What does that even mean????

Eh?

When I am at my wits end (I am a single mother so this happens reasonably often) I do not go round knocking on doors asking enormous favours from male strangers I do not know. I doubt that any women would, unless a matter of life or death, which this isn’t.

Why should it be Ok for a dad to do so?
Why can’t he just look it up on YouTube and get on with it? Yes it won’t be perfect the first time and there will be some bad words muttered, like when I tried to repair my own kitchen drainage pipes, but that’s life. I really don’t like this helplessness which men affect when it comes to doing something they think is women’s work.

A child of that age would not be able to plait it themselves no. I think its lovely he asked and perhaps she always has it done and he wants to keep some normality for her, id be really happy he asked , they must trust and like you xx

It may be his way of reaching out for help needed in a more general way.

I feel for the man, yes it can come across as weird but he obviously thinks your a nice person to ask you. I'm sure his wife/partner will appreciate your help

People on here are so weird. It must be skewed because it's online but still.
We've got comments about boundaries, pp who don't understand what the word stranger means, pp who seem to genuinely believe this is either the start of an affair or a slippery slope to op essentially fostering the girl.
Alongside those who seem to think anyone can do a plait! I'd think a lot of women can't, those with fine hair or mums who couldn't plait for a start.
And then the jealous psychos who say they'd go mental if their husband ever dared ask a neighbour for help.

Seriously, a lot of these posters have such deep rooted issues 🙃

Absolutely not right. You people don't know each other - so he shouldn't be leaving his child with you. That's his bad. Also mum is probably not going to be up for plaiting hair immediately after birth. And you'll probably end up being taken advantage of with other things - like him dropping child with you when mum is in labour?? Unless you want them in your life on a daily/weekly, I'd just tell Dad you've reconsidered and your mum has advised you not to accept responsibility for his child, because you don't have the experience with such small children. Dad is either dumb and helpless or highly manipulative. But you need to set your boundaries.

just someone who is reaching out for help?

I so would have done this in a heartbeat.
My gut is that dad just didn't know and panicked a bit. My husband can do a ponytail but can't plait at all after years of teaching. X

No it's not weird, sounds like a dad who is genuinely struggling with his wife not being there and wants the best for his daughter. I met my neighbours in similar circumstances. My DS did go to school with their DD however she's 4 years younger. Never spoke, kids don't really speak but mum was rushed to hospital with gallbladder and dad didn't drive. He didn't think, tried his best to ensure his DD was dressed, did her hair, albeit a bit of a mess, but he tried then suddenly realised that been in an area without buses before 9am and no car he was stuck. He came and asked and we immediately agreed to take both children to school even though as they had staggered drop off times it would mean our DS going in earlier. We did it. Kids are now good friends and I'm just as comfortable asking them for help as hey are for me.

Sounds like dad has panicked maybe school has certain hairstyle guidelines. Regardless you could have said no but it's not like he's leaving his child in your care. He's with her a d is probably terrified of mum being in hospital. I'd commend him for having the balls to ask for help. Many won't because of this exact fear of being considered weird.

I wouldn't expect a 6 year old child to be able to plait their own hair...certainly not a white British one!
Yes it's a bit unusual but he's desperate. I'm not sure I'd have agreed to do that every morning but I probably would have offered some sort of practical help like a 'lesson' or alternative. You don't sound like you k ow them well. It might not even be his daughter.
You've agreed to it now. Just do it with an open heart and save this happening for an amusing anecdote.

Slightly weird - but a good way to get to know at least one of your neighbouring families. You will be well thought of by them; especially for helping in their time of need. I hope it's a positive experience for you and them.

Not that weird. I lived abroad for a few years and different nationalities have different normals.
one of my neighbours I barely knew turned up one day with her daughter, pj’s and a. Can of baked beans and asked me to care for her while she went off to give birth.
Another family asked the whole estate to their daughters wedding - hundreds of us - we paraded in one door and out another to bless the couple.
They maybe less stuff than is Brits and not be afraid to ask the community for help - it takes a village and all that…

I personally think it’s really lovely he felt he could ask you! I wouldn’t overthink it my DH would need help with my DDs hair. Maybe DD is upset her mum’s not at home and he’s trying to keep things the same as possible for her. It’s nice to hear you have agreed to help even though you probably felt you didn’t have a choice!

I don’t think it’s weird and I think you sound lovely!
I’d be very grateful to you if that was me in hospital. Would be mortified at my dp though 😆
In fact, this has made me think I need to teach my own dp to do hair (two girls here).

It might just be a dad at his wits end.

My daughter learnt to do her own hair at that age because I am terrible with hair. By 7 she was watching YouTube videos on how to braid her own hair in the mirror.
I appreciate he’s stressed but really he could have just watched a YouTube video it’s pretty weird he’s knocked on a strangers door just because you are a woman.

My daughter just turned 10 and is only just about managing simple styles. I think, for you, it will be odd - Especially not having your own children and not knowing them.

However, I do think what you're doing is extremely kind and a good way to bond with your neighbours. You'll end up with a little girl who admires you, too and someone who made her feel a bit better when her Mummy was sick in hospital; a time when she's worried about her unborn sibling and can't really understand her own emotions. You're giving her that little bit of peace on a morning.

This also sounds like a typical Dad/bloke thing to do. I've had men approach me in shops, confused about which sanitary products to buy their wives or daughter's 😂. Sometimes they need their hands held.

Just hope that Mum&baby are doing well, and enjoy the lovely long hair you get to play with, and a little girl trusting you to do it, feeling safe with you in a time of turmoil.

IME men always seem to know how to get their needs met. For some reason his daughter needs her hair plaited. It doesn’t surprise me at all that her dad just thought he’d ask the lady next door as all females know how to braid 🙄

His wife will probably be mortified when she finds out but also grateful that you were kind to her daughter when her husband couldn’t be arsed to learn how to plait hair.

Just do it.

I love this. It feels like community. What a great way to get to know them better.

I remember this happening on our street when I was young and most girls had plaits.
These days, if I were that mother, I would have taught my husband to do her hair anyway.

Deff not weird, he’s admitting he can’t do it, I would laugh
i went away for 4 days and my DH took daughter to school, with hair brush and bobbles and asked one of class mates mum. No problem