to think this woman a bit strange?

[beebuzzer]

My DD and me were in town and this woman with a little girl smiled at us so I smiled back. She then asked how old my DD was, so I told her and asked how old hers was (as you do!)and exchanged a few words. She said she was from India and had quite a thick accent. I thought that was it so we made a move to walk on when she suddenly said 'come to my house' I thought she just meant anytime so I smiled. But she persisted,telling me where her house was and that our children could play together,she actually wanted me to go back with her there and then! I said I had some shopping to do but would her her number as she seemed a bit upset I didnt seem keen. So she told me her number and I said I would call.

If I had been sat down chatting to someone for a while and started getting to know someone it might be different but this took me quite by surprise!

I'm going to guess she has recently moved to the area or even into the country and is desperate for her DD to make friends and going about it in a rather bizarre manner.

YANBU to be wary and to think her strange, but I bet you there's a normal explanation.

Yes tainted quite possibly. U are right Euphemia but I just felt it was the nicest way to get out of it.

I'm sure she was just trying to be friendly and reach out - if english was not her first language it may be difficult for her and she has obviously come across rather abruptly and oddly. YANBU to react the way you did though - I'd have been the same. I suppose it's probably a sad reflection of the times we live in, but, yes, normally at least a brief chat and getting-to-know-you would have been expected before an invitation like that!

I guess they are probably just much more open where she comes from. I found this in Brazil, me and DD got invited to strangers houses all the time, made me realise it was my British-ness which came across as strange & reserved!!

ffs the women was prob just lonely give her break! Can be really hard to meet people if you a sahm and must be doubly so if you are new to the country/area.
Maybe she was a bit forward in inviting you to house but whats wrong with giving her a ring to go for a coffee or invite her along to your local toddlers?(I used to be the lonely mum with no pals til I discovered toddlers/soft play and rhymetimes so always make a special effort to befriend others now).

I think in Indian culture its very normal to invite people to your house. Maybe send her a quick text inviting her along to a mother and baby group or something?

It sounds like just a cultural difference, and that she is overkeen to make friends for her and her DD. YANBU to have reacted cautiously though, I would have too.

If you see her again and she wants to know why you didn't call, just say you're very busy at the moment.

Strange but I expect she was just reaching out.

Having lived overseas I am quite used to "picking up" and being "picked up" by totally random woman in supermarkets/carparks/gym classes etc. If you don't just jump in with someone who looks half normal then it can be quite hard to make friends and some cultures are just more open to this sort of thing, with the brits being the absolute worse!

I had a similar experience a couple of years ago. We had just bought our lovely Cocker Spaniel puppy and DS and I were walking the pup along the road when a car stopped and a lady got out and started to chat to us. Turned out she also had a puppy about the same age which was in the car with her. Her house was just along the street and she invited us in for a coffee so that the puppies could play together.

I took her up on her offer - we had a lovely chat, found out we had loads in common and have been friends ever since!

Maybe we should keep an open mind about situations like this. (However, don't think I'd have taken a bloke up on a similar offer!!)

Ok I think I might send her a text and see if she wants to maybe meet up for a coffee. Its not like I have loads of friends here either and I can kind of understand if she is lonely. I think I just reacted because It was so sudden.

In India it's common for people to be open / approachable and inviting when they have children of similar age etc (means they have one thing in common). Guess she was just trying to make friends for her child and for herself and she obviously doesn't know that it's not the done thing here to just invite strangers back to your house.

Sorry using iPhone!

YANBU even though she was probably harmless.

When I lived in Turkey this would have been pretty normal behaviour. However, in the the UK, it's definitely odd and there's no way on earth I would take DD round to a total stranger's house after a chance encounter.

From what you say, there's a good chance that this lady isn't British and doesn't have a good understanding of British culture yet. Good luck to her in getting to grips with British reserve...

awww bless her perhaps she doesn't know many people :(

i would have been a bit too but as another poster said, maybe text her and invite her along to a toddler group or something.

Think its a cultural difference - when friends were travelling in India they were often invited into peoples homes and offered a meal.

As others have said she's probably lonely being in a new area and trying to make friends; coupled with English not being a first language may mean that she struggles to make small talk hence being direct.

Ok, I will. I guess I should have known better having lived abroad myself for quite a long time too but I guess I am quite a private person too and not that outgoing which doesnt help. I will text her though....

She was lonely! You don't have to have her around,if you don't want to, but you could extend the hand of friendship and invite her to go to something with you. Imagine how you would feel in India knowing only your DH.
It is terribly sad if lonely people get labelled weird.

I have just texted asking if she wants to go for a coffee in town. I feel really guilty now!

Her invitation is absolutely the norm in South Asia, particularly in India and Sri Lanka. She isn't strange!

However, you weren't aware of her cultural norms in the same way as she didn't realize such an invitation is unusual in traditional 'British' society (however we're defining that). I've spent time in South Asia and have many friends from there, so I'm not trying to criticize you or flash some 'cultural awareness' but to reassure you. This actually happened to me as a kid and my mum took me to the Indian family's home (rural Scotland in the 80s). We ended up best friends. The families got on really well, except when Manjit would escape from primary school and encourage me to do the same

Ooh, cross posts. Beezer don't feel bad, honestly, don't! Lovely that you suggested coffee.

Beezer? Beebuzzer I mean

When my neigbour moved in I was puzzled as to why she kept calling round with food and being very 'nosey' etc. I didnt dislike it but I simply didnt understand it.

She was a fairly new arrival and it was normal behaviour for her. I wasnt for me and I didnt really know how to handle it.

I was friendly and nice though. I thought it was really brave of her. She is a lovely woman but now I know her better she is really nosey

Thanks Disappear, Beezer is fine :)

Well she hasnt texted back yet so we will see if she does. Hope I didnt upset her too much.

ps: I thought she said she had been here 3 years but I could be wrong.