Mums, is this weird or am I being weird?

Omg what a lovely person you are. ❤️
I have 2 doctorates and cant do my own or my kids hair for shit. There are school photos with evidence of this. You've done a very kind thing. So what if its weird!

I don’t find it that weird, I’m in the minority! I just think he doesn’t think he can do it very well so wants a woman, who can do it better, to help! It’s not a big deal!

id do it without hesitation

100%.

You're not and it isn't!

You're absolutely fine.

I mean all the wound up women here saying he only asked you because you are female......

They've stopped thinking rationally,

For example ....

I need my daughter's hair plaited, she's upset about it...

Do I

1. Ask John at number 47 who shaves his head

Or

1. Do I ask Jane with the long hair at number 48?

The obtuse say you're asking because she had a vagina, the realists say you ask because she's more likely to be able to help.

To those MN who say that the man should learn to do his daughter's hair perhaps he should but he may have other things on his mind atm. Why can't one help someone in need,. as people have suggested perhaps the little girl said that the nice lady would be able to do it.
It's a nice thing to do.

Perhaps because I am older 60+ I don't find this weird at all, poor child is feeling a little upset by Mum being in hospital and dad being worried about his wife and baby is feeling overwhelmed. What I am upset about is that people on here think it is weird. I would do it with good intentions , don't forget to get mum some flowers and a little gift for the new baby and perhaps a book or some hair clips for the little girl. I can assure you your kindness will not be forgotten.

I'm a widow. I'm pretty capable, but just a few times I've had to ask a male neighbour for help.

I've been very reluctant to do so, but sometimes I simply had to.

Apparently that's me 'testing the waters' or 'dumping it on the nearest penis'.
And even more horribly, it's apparently either my late husband's fault for not having trained me to do those things, or, if he could look down and see me asking someone he'd be furious or embarrassed by how pathetic I am.

I think you’ve done such a lovely thing op and helped a dad out when he probably was having a massive panic about everything. This is what having neighbours should be about. I also think it’s a lovely idea to pop over in a few weeks to see them 🥰

It is weird. But he's possibly not thinking clearly due to the situation.

Either way, I think it's really lovely of you. You'll give the little girl some special attention and comfort I imagine whilst her mum is in hospital. 💐

That’s a bit weird, how does he know that you can plait hair? I mean I have a daughter who had long hair but I’m rubbish at plaits. What’s wrong with her just having a pony tail! If I was the mother I would find that abit odd to be fair!

Don’t overthink it, they obviously trust you to help them, which I think is lovely. This will help you to get to know them (if you want to of course!).

I don’t think it’s that weird; it’s a stressful situation and dad just wants his daughter to have her hair done as she likes it (some kids are very routine focussed and the plaits might be a big deal for her).

I think it’s a lovely thing for you to have said yes to and they will appreciate it. They probably felt really embarrassed having to ask you.

what’s wrong with asking for help if you need it?

I do wonder whether this could be a regional or cultural divide thing too… I live in the North and find it odd that in other regions people tend to be more frosty towards one another. Just saying.

Hmm my first thought is that he is testing the water. I think if you do this the next thing will be dropping her off at school after, and then babysitting so his wife can ger some sleep and so on

I actually think this is lovely. A father is struggling and has reached out for help. As you say he clearly has a lot on his mind, and this small kindness could make a huge difference.

That’s lovely - so nice you’re helping. This is what communities should be like!

It sounds like he's panicking about the hair, maybe it's a displaced kind of fear. Like - I can't control the illness, what can I do to cope?

Then typically for a man, he's tried to find the nearest woman to help him out. 🤔

To be fair, for balance, I guess if I needed someone to jump start my car, I'd probably try to find a man.

What a great way to meet your neighbours 🥰🥰It doesn’t hurt to be generous sometimes and what’s the real harm!

To me this is not weird at all. You live next door in an apartment block. It takes something to bring people together. A cup of milk or sugar. Accepting a parcel. Watering plants when they’re away. Being able to help a neighbour is a lovely thing especially in their time of need.

Glad it's all ok and that mum and baby are doing well.

This leapt out at me earlier:

My partner raised a good point last night about what if the baby is overdue and then also has an extended time in hospital, do I really want to be tied to my apartment every morning for 6 weeks (I stay in his a lot couldn't do that). Anyway I got a little smarter.

A man suggesting you think about yourself, and obv about him having your company too....

Take a leaf from that man's book, ladies.

Get her to sit behind you so you demo plaiting your own hair.

if you’ve short hair. Ask dad to buy hair styling head so that she can practise various styles

I doubt very much if he is going to make his daughter happy by doing her hair himself. Not many men have a clue how to do longish hair. It would be a nice thing for the neighbour to do. She can always tell him where to go if he tries anything.

Not wishing to derail this thread in any way. My mum was hospitalised for a while when I was five, and my dad had absolutely no clue how to cope with my long, thick, wavy hair. He got his (childless) sister to come and tie it into bunches every morning, and invariably by midmorning the ribbons had fallen out and teacher was telling me off because my hair wasn't tied back!
Do your best, OP!

I think thats lovely! and ok. If he feels comfortable to ask you todo tha t thats great. I would bevthrilled . What a great way to help.... and getv o know your neighbours !

As fair as specifically plaiting the hair is concerned, ( you’ve said it’s lovely and long) the school probably insists it’s plaited to be under control, quite normal.
Your neighbour obviously feels you’re trustworthy, and it’s not as if he’s asking you to look after her for him. Take it as a compliment 👍

I agree. I'm a lone parent and have had to pop across to neighbours I have nodding acquaintance with for assistance. And they are happy to do it. And then they feel they can ask me things too. That is the kind of world I want to live in.

I'm interested that the little girl's wants haven't been mentioned in this discussion. Some girls absolutely don't want certain people to do their hair (he may have tried and pulled/done it badly) - and absolutely do want plaits. She must be very anxious at this time of change. I can imagine him giving her a choice and her choosing (unexpectedly) the neighbour. It's something the little girl can have control over. Just a thought.