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Original poster

Do I tell the mum her husband left their DD with me?

28 replies

Leavestumble · 04/02/2024 23:31

Walking towards the park, and we pass a child from nursery. The children interact and I nod towards the child's father, who I do not know. He then says, "oh they look like they know each other, I'm just playing football over there, can you take her to play in the park and I'll be over in a bit". Then he just ran away without giving me an opportunity to respond. Over thirty minutes later, we all trot back across the field to track him down. He wasn't visible from the park. The child from nursery is saying, "I can show you where I live if we can't find daddy". Children are 3, almost 4.

Should I let the child's mum know?

I'm in two minds as not sure it is my place, and she must know how useless he is.

OP posts:
Boomboom22 · 04/02/2024 23:33

Definitely do let her know. He probably lies. Hate football and football obsessed men. Yuck.

ZekeZeke · 04/02/2024 23:34

I'm sure she knows what a twat he is, I wouldn't bother.

Why didn't you call him back when he tried to pawn the kids on you? He is a CF.

NewName24 · 04/02/2024 23:34

Yes, you should.

@Boomboom22 this is nothing to do with people liking football, and everything to do with this one individual being a complete waste of space as a parent

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Mumoftwo1312 · 04/02/2024 23:35

My goodness yes I'd let her know, that's pretty appalling.

It's clearly happened to the poor kid before, for her to say she can show you the way home

Mumoftwo1312 · 04/02/2024 23:36

Did you find him in the end or have to take the little girl home?

PennySittingPretty · 04/02/2024 23:36

That is appalling! Definitely tell her.
What kind of idiot hands his DD over to random people in a park?! I know the majority of people are decent human beings, but still, it’s an insane thing to do.

Original poster
Leavestumble · 04/02/2024 23:38

I wish I had acted faster! He ran off in the oppoaite direction. I was carrying bikes/scooters as we were at the end of a long trip, eldest was crying, youngest was excited to see friend and they started to head towards the park entrance. In that moment I was so shocked.

OP posts:
Original poster
Leavestumble · 04/02/2024 23:40

Mumoftwo1312 · 04/02/2024 23:36

Did you find him in the end or have to take the little girl home?

I found him in the end. I let the girl run up to him when we were a football pitch width away. I needed to get mine home as they were hungry and tired.

OP posts:
TheSlantedOwl · 04/02/2024 23:42

Yes tell the mum. And when doing so, make it clear that he is not allowed to dump his kid on you and run off again, ever.

What a useless wanker.

minipie · 04/02/2024 23:45

Are the mum and dad together?

If they’re not then I imagine she knows he’s useless and nowt she can do about it

If they are then yes I’d tell her and hopefully she’ll tear a strip off him

Boobettes · 04/02/2024 23:48

Then he just ran away without giving me an opportunity to respond.

Nope, you definitely had the opportunity to respond and say no.

But I would definitely tell the mother, just don't make out you couldn't respond as that's either going to puzzle her or make her disbelieve you.

determinedtomakethiswork · 04/02/2024 23:52

Boobettes · 04/02/2024 23:48

Then he just ran away without giving me an opportunity to respond.

Nope, you definitely had the opportunity to respond and say no.

But I would definitely tell the mother, just don't make out you couldn't respond as that's either going to puzzle her or make her disbelieve you.

Oh ffs you were not there so how on earth would you know?

Tilllly · 04/02/2024 23:55

You should have taken child home with you and let him panic!

Oh I don't really mean that of course, but he needs a wake up call. Knob.

OnceAgainAgain · 04/02/2024 23:57

That's really quite worrying though isn't it? I mean he could have been leaving the kid with anyone. I bet her wouldn't have done that with his mobile phone or his wallet.

Original poster
Leavestumble · 04/02/2024 23:58

I was worried about not finding him when, after about 15 mins, he hadn't reappeared and it was apparent it wasn't just for 5 mins!

OP posts:
Peaceandquietandacuppa · 05/02/2024 00:00

Yes I would let her know and I’d tell him it really wasn’t ok. What an idiot he was.

TheSlantedOwl · 05/02/2024 00:01

Social services might also be of benefit. This arsehole dumped his tiny kid on a virtual stranger.

sprigatito · 05/02/2024 00:01

I'd probably have called the police when I realised I couldn't see him tbh. He abandoned his child with a stranger. I have no time for feckless fuckwit fathers.

Boobettes · 05/02/2024 00:02

determinedtomakethiswork · 04/02/2024 23:52

Oh ffs you were not there so how on earth would you know?

Show quote history

Because unless he runs faster than a cheetah, she could've refused.

That's how on earth I know.

Higgldy · 05/02/2024 00:03

Could you tell the nursery as a safeguarding concern?

Original poster
Leavestumble · 05/02/2024 00:06

Thanks, this has reassured me that I should speak to the Mum when I next see her. As to the question on whether her mum & dad are together, I don't know but definitely something to consider when I approach the conversation. There is another nursery friend's party next weekend, and if I see the mum there I will speak with her.

OP posts:
GreigeO · 05/02/2024 00:40

Because unless he runs faster than a cheetah, she could've refused

But in real life, you're often so shocked when people behave in such outstandingly cheeky ways that you don't quite realise what's going on, until it's too late to respond.

WandaWonder · 05/02/2024 00:45

No I would feel no to tell same as if a women did this to me I would not feel a need to tell her husband/partner, If someone came with this to me I would they were a little odd

sure I know for some people they do deep thinking of every single scenario that ever happens to them but no something happened I would have thought possibly a bit odd at the time then moved on

coxesorangepippin · 05/02/2024 02:24

So basically he couldn't have got away quick enough?!

Wtaf

SheilaFentiman · 05/02/2024 02:43

GreigeO · 05/02/2024 00:40

Because unless he runs faster than a cheetah, she could've refused

But in real life, you're often so shocked when people behave in such outstandingly cheeky ways that you don't quite realise what's going on, until it's too late to respond.

To add to this, OP didn’t know he was going to fuck off for over half an hour either.

I think if OP encountered a parent and child in this situation and the parent said, “aargh, I’ve just spotted my brother and need to run after him, could you possibly take little Cecil to the playground and I’ll meet you there in a little bit?” and then turned up 5-10 mins later, OP wouldn’t have posted, even if the initial request was a bit random.