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Original poster

Is it weird to WhatsApp guy I met in park

132 replies

Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:04

Last week during school holidays I took my young Dd to a local park with playground, it’s a quiet one where many don’t go. Another little girl was there and Dd began playing with her, her dad then came up and was really friendly and great to talk to.
I live in another country and he spoke great English, although from a different country to the country we both live in now. Our DD’s are the same age and we had a good discussion about schools/life where we are and agreed on many of the issues about schooling etc. He was really interesting and easy to talk to (as have other mums I’ve met at playgrounds etc been to) and the girls got on great. As we were leaving I said maybe we should swap numbers, mainly concerning possible future plans he may have to homeschool with some other parents he’s met, it’s unlikely to happen for my Dd, but is an option depending on how her first year in primary goes in September. He was very open to it and said they would be there every morning that week. We didn’t end up being able to go again and it’s back to school next week.
Should I WhatsApp him? But say what? I feel a bit rude to have not messaged, but also it seems a bit strange? I also never ask for peoples number and don’t understand why I did really

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Original poster
Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:36

@ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine Yes it was like this, girls got on really well, he was easy to talk to, just that really

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Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:35

@Upinthenightagain It didn’t feel
like that at all, the girls got on so well, as did we, like a friend I suppose. We were sat there for over two hours, it’s not that weird. Also because we’re in a big ex pat type community, many people often make friends like this, it’s a different life to living back home, I can’t imagine doing it as much there

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Upinthenightagain · 06/04/2024 10:32

@Saturdaymorningsinthenineties it’s Ott to ask for numbers even if it’s a woman. It’s definitely worse that it’s a bloke though. Comes over as you do have designs on him. I’ve chatted to loads of mums and dads at the park. My dd is very outgoing and friendly so always finds a friend there. You just say we’ll see them again sometime. It’s different if you meet at an extra curricular activity or playgroup and see them weekly, then maybe you ask for numbers.

Original poster
Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:31

@RobbieisWright We didn’t swap numbers though, I only took his as didn’t have phone with me (screen was being repaired) so the onus would be on me. Feel bit crappy to not text or turn up any of the days either

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ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 06/04/2024 10:31

From your first post I was assuming you took his number to arrange to get the kids together again since they got on so well. I did this with a dad we met at roller skating. It was the second time we'd met and he mentioned that his daughter is autistic and struggled to make friends, had been talking about my daughter all week since we'd met the previous week. I suggested swapping numbers so that we could let each other know if we were going to be at roller skating to help him manage his daughter's expectations. Since then we've met up to take the kids and dogs for a walk together. He's a nice bloke, easy to talk to, no different from getting the kids together with another mum. We're both married and it genuinely hadn't occurred to me to think about the appropriateness because that's just not on my radar at all and I'd be horrified if it was on his.

RobbieisWright · 06/04/2024 10:29

Odd. Just because you've swapped numbers doesn't mean you have to message him?
Unless you want to of course then go ahead and message him. I'm presuming you are an adult capable of making decision's like that?

Original poster
Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:28

@Upinthenightagain I’m not bored, I didn’t get chance to get back to the park.
If it was a woman, there would be no qualms about messaging, it’s because it’s a man, I feel weird

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Politeperson81 · 06/04/2024 10:27

You're not single and neither is he so forget it

Original poster
Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:26

I hope he didn’t think I had designs on him 😬cringey, it just felt like a natural thing to do for the kids and because we got on well, now o feel embarrassed but also rude not to just acknowledge it by sending a quick text, then leaving it there

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Upinthenightagain · 06/04/2024 10:26

His wife won’t like and neither would your husband. You shouldn’t be this bored

Original poster
Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:24

It seemed a perfectly natural thing to swap numbers and other mums have done this before and I’ve not thought it weird, it’s just because it’s a man, which seems a bit ridiculous
We live in a large ex pat community so it’s fairly normal to do this.
I have no attraction to him, but I have been thinking on and off about our conversations and no idea why! We agreed on so many points here and he was interesting & intelligent I think. As much as I love all my mum friends, this conversation was more interesting.

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Babymamamama · 06/04/2024 10:23

As my daughter would say “don’t deep it”. Maybe drop him a a breezy text letting him know the next time you will be in the park in case him or his wife are around with the DD so the girls could play together again. That way makes clear you don’t have designs on him.

BobbyBiscuits · 06/04/2024 10:22

Why are you so into it? Don't message him.
You're not single. Your kids don't go to the same school, and you talking about how he is home schooling but you are not so you should talk about that? It sounds like you fancy him.
Sorry, but who gives that much thought to a stranger in the park?

Original poster
Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:21

@MrsSkylerWhite I told him
and said what we talked about regarding schools etc here, he wasn’t that interested tbh, same as if I’d met a mum I suppose

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InTheShallowTheShalalalalalalalow · 06/04/2024 10:18

Given your further updates I would leave it.

To be so interested in speaking to another guy that you randomly ask for his number in the park, and then think this intensely thinking about it.... there could be trouble on the horizon.

Needanewnamebeingwatched · 06/04/2024 10:16

I would let this one go

I wouldn't happy my husband gave his number to a random woman in the park, so it could cause alsorts of problems.

KreedKafer · 06/04/2024 10:15

Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:11

@Mrsjayy Theyre not at the same school, one close by though.
He doesn’t have my number as I just wrote his down, hence me feeling bad that I didn’t at least send a follow up message

What are you talking about?! Of course you don’t have to message him just because you took his number.

If he was that keen for you to message him he would have asked for your number. He is absolutely not sitting there wondering why you haven’t messaged him. He will not have given this a second’s thought.

Moltenpink · 06/04/2024 10:15

Maybe just message him letting him know when you are heading back to that park, in case the girls can play again?

MrsSkylerWhite · 06/04/2024 10:14

Did you mention him to your husband?

GRex · 06/04/2024 10:14

You are over-thinking it. If you want to see him because you are both single, or if your DD needs the friendship, then text "Hi, aorry for delayed mesaage it's SatAM here. We will be at the playground on Sunday,l 10am, just letting you know in case you and DD are free."
If you don't want to meet, just leave it. You aren't home-schooling, so don't waste his time on that.

Mrsjayy · 06/04/2024 10:13

I think he was maybe just being chatty you just met them maybe see if they are at the park again. I wouldn't WhatsApp a random I had just met unless I wanted the kids to play. The rest imo seems a bit full on.

StarlightLady · 06/04/2024 10:13

It’s unusual but it’s not weird. Often in these situations you get 2 people hesitating. Message him and see whats happens. Expect nothing and you may get a nice surprise. If not, there’s nothing lost.

Original poster
Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:13

Don’t fancy him at all, but just really enjoyed talking to him..hard to explain

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Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:12

Both married/relationships, both talked about our other halves

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Original poster
Saturdaymorningsinthenineties · 06/04/2024 10:11

@Mrsjayy Theyre not at the same school, one close by though.
He doesn’t have my number as I just wrote his down, hence me feeling bad that I didn’t at least send a follow up message

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