Barber Kissed My Toddler On Cheek.

[Justfeelsweird]

Just taken my son ( 7 ) to get his hair cut. Also had my toddler with me (2.5)

Barber finished the cut and I was paying and he picked my toddler up and made a fuss of him and kissed him on the cheek.

I thought it was a bit odd and it's been on my mind since we got home.

What does anyone else think?

I think you need to unclench.

Was he from a different culture? I am Arab and where I am from it's very normal

Wouldn't think anything of it personally.

Yes.

I wouldn't like it but it doesn't mean he's a pedophile

Normal in some cultures wouldn’t bother me at all.

I was trying to think of a non racist way to ask that. If it was a male barber with a female child I’d have not been too impressed tbh. I think it does make a difference that it was a little boy, the barber was just being friendly

I understand you not liking it, I wouldn't give it too much thought though and maybe just go to a different barber if that one makes you feel uncomfortable x

It just took me by surprise and I can have a tendency to over react or over think things.

I just wanted to get other peoples opinions on it.

Massively overreacting. I wish this was all I had to worry about 😂

It was, in all probability, totally kindly meant but I wouldn’t like it either.
Go to a different barber next time.

If the barber was Turkish, Arab, or even one of the hotter Mediterranean countries. Completely normal.

My children are constantly getting whisked away (within my sight obviously) and kissed by strangers, we live in the Gulf. DH is from here.

Same in Morocco. People of both genders interact with children in public a lot.

This

It's a very normal thing to do in some cultures. Although if he is living here for long he should know it's not the norm here !

Thank you for the helpful comments, it's cleared things up.

I would be really unhappy. It might be fine in some people's cultures but my child has their own culture which should be respected.

I would have no issue with this at all.

It’s a really sad reflection of our times that a gesture like this - in front of the parent - is cause for concern. It’s obvious what it was.

It's beyond normal. The don't kiss thing is far more weird to me (I'm only half English). It's in line with the grandparents cant visit until the baby is 23 and can't be picked up unless written permission is given by both parents in front of a Witness.

Nor would I.

And the OP says he's from a different culture, so as an adult she'll recognise these things are completely normal in some cultures.

And yet 'it's been on her mind since she got home' 😳

It wouldn't occur to me to worry about this. DS has been kissed by many North Africans (mostly older ladies in markets and restaurants) and quite a few French people when visiting DM in Provence. And to be fair, as a little one, he was scrumptious.

We have Portuguese friends. They kiss children, they adore them. Nothing sordid about it at all.

Absolutely would not cross my mind to worry.

@Moonshiners I agree! I love the way our extended multicultural family (French, Balkan, Irish, Israeli) dilutes some of the more uptight Anglo Saxon attitudes.

We can get very huggy, kissy and raucous nowadays.