How do I deal with this?

[Bumpinthenight1]

Can I have some advice please?
My son is in Reception and is very friendly with another little boy already. They get on brilliantly.
My problem is the little boys Dad. He is a stay at home Dad, he seems a great guy, friendly with all the mums and messes around with all the kids. All the kids think he is great. He is however very tactile with some of the children, and because my boy is best friend's with his son, my boy gets touched a lot. Everyday, morning and afternoon.
Now mostly this is a rub of the head or sometimes just a high 5, but he has picked him up, he has grabbed the back of his neck in a kind of massage thing, lots of under arm tickles. I have been trying to get used to it but the frequency of touching and the fact that NO-ONE else (non-family) touches my children like this in this kind of frequency it is now starting to upset me.
I have talked to my husband and friends about it and they think I should ask him to stop touching, but how do I do this without creating a situation??! I have now started trying to avoid him by getting to school late so he has already dropped off and trying to keep my children away from him but my Son just wants to be with his boy.
My gut feeling is that if it makes me feel uncomfortable I need to stop it or am I just being over sensitive??

Does it make your DS feel uncomfortable?

What does your DS think? That has to be the overriding factor here. It's part of teaching him that he has autonomy over his body - not you, not his friend's dad, him. You need to take your cues from him, I think.

If he is uncertain about it then yes, you do have to say something. I agree it will curtail the friendship though, if I were in that situation and someone had said something like that about my DH I wouldn't let him be alone with that particular child again, for my DH's own protection. Mud sticks and rumours fly. The school gate is not the most rational place.

Surely if his invasion of you're DS's space unsettles your DS, he would either say or seem uncomfortable? Have you noticed either?

Hmmm, that uncomfortable moment when I start to agree with the other posters and change my mind...

It's nothing to do with him being a man at all, just a bit in my face for my liking, and as no stranger has been so hands on with them everyday before.

My DS doesn't see any harm in it as we are a very affectionate family and he can't distinguish family affection from stranger affection

Perhaps I may start to cuddle and pick up his children, if you can't beat them, join them....

The million dollar question OP is does it make your son uncomfortable? does he shy away or look awkward when this happens?

Op it is one of the things that's hardest about being a parent....we let our children go to other people's homes...we leave them in the care of others...we have to judge situations appropriately whilst still letting go of our kids....you seem only to be rather

posted too soon....you seem to be rather possessive more than uncomfortable about your son and this man

Bump, you may have hit on your own solution! Half an hour on MN and the results speak for themselves! Miraculous!

This is a hard situation.i completely understand what you feel uncomfortable with but if you dont think its sinister then you might have to let it go.If you say something to the dad then he will definately be offended,i mean would you be cos i would?If you dont think you trust him then dont let him go there.Not being funny but if it was a woman would you feel the same?if no then youre being unreasonable but if yes then act.

My brother is great with kids. He's always on the floor throwing them around (his own, my son, all their friends' children), messing about with them, picking them up etc. the kids love him.

The thought that someone might feel like he's overstepping boundaries is terrible. I really feel for this man.

I know you can't help how you feel but this seems more possessive than anything. If it really makes you uncomfortable you're going to have to say something but I think really it would be better for everyone if you could get over it.

OP you have not said if your son is upset by the man's behaviour...that's the key. Your instinct DOES count too though.

Bump - possibly the best course of action.....as long as you're happy with it though. x

Thing is, he isn't a stranger to your child, is he? He's the father of your son's best mate.

If the touching is in no way inappropriate and your son (and the other children) don't mind then I think you should leave well alone.

I have to say, it was pretty much the norm when I was growing up (with no sexual connotations at all). I did hate being tickled too much (very sensitive about that) but otherwise I didn't mind at all.

Meant to add, and we were a very non touchy-feely, demonstrative kind of family too, so it was parents friends. No problem at all.

But he's not a stranger is he? He's your ds's best mates dad.

Sounds as though most of it is play type things high fives, tickles etc I could understand it more if it was cuddles and kisses.

The workers at my ds's nursery quite often give him a kiss as he is very 'kissy' - I think it's nice!

I really don't understand your reasoning OP. A child's personal space is nothing like an adults. Children need and like more hand holding, hugging, sitting on someone's knee, rough and tumble play, tickling, chasing/catching, etc. than adults do so you can't really extrapolate from what you would not enjoy to what your DS might not enjoy. Does your son seem uncomfortable or unhappy with the interaction? If not that let him be and don't sour your relationship with the other dad (I am sure the other dad would reduce/end the physical contact with your DS at your request but you would make him feel bad as he would assume you suspect his motives and your relationship would not be comfortable anymore).