To feel a bit sad that this man felt he had to justify himself.

[onestepbeyond]

Waiting for dd2's prescription last night at a pharmacy in a large supermarket and the man next to us was smiling and chatting to dd2 (6months). When he saw I was watching he instantly stopped and said "don't worry, I have two daughters of my own" as though he was expecting me to scream at him to get away from my child. Now it is possible I just have a very scary face but aibu to feel sad that someone would feel they need to justify interacting with a child (or maybe I'm just too trusting?!).

Yes, it's very sad.

Maybe he's had a bad experience with some over-anxious woman before?

Did you tell him he was fine to carry on chatting?

"(Or maybe I'm just too trusting?!)"
^ makes me think you're not all that trusting after all.

I can't see anything noteworthy about this exchange at all. I wouldn't even have thought what he said was justifying, just making conversation.

You need to ask what face you had on, was it your bitchy resting face

I think it's as likely he meant "don't worry, I'm not bored by this game, I've played it eleventy thousand times before" but yes, it's a shame he felt he had to say it.

youthecat i smiled and said it's fine.
lady it was the fact he said don't worry and instantly stopped interacting when i wasn't in fact worried at all.
possum i do have a bit of a evil bitch face but i did smile!!

I have bitchy resting face as a permanent expression. Always have had. I now try to have a general smile on my mug but this often results in people thinking me gormless.

Awww bless him. Even I'm wary of talking to other people's baby's/children although I'm much better since having my own

My friend's husband is a Primary School teacher. He adores children and they in turn adore him back. He finds it so difficult to be himself around the children because he said there is always that air of mistrust and he always finds himself holding back. He can't even comfort a little 5 year old who has fallen and scraped his knee. He said it's double standards because a female colleague wouldn't be suspect if she gave a quick cuddle to comfort a distressed child yet he can't and won't as the possible backlash could ruin his career and his life (small village school, well known teacher)

The male teachers where I work (as a TA) aren't averse to comforting children....one is 25 the other late 30's. The older one is a ks1 teacher,(and father of 2 young boys) and the children have no problem with going to him for some TLC as necessary.

But that is the culture of our school - we have a lot of children who need that reaction from us.

I find it a bit sad that some people view all adults who have interraction with children as suspect.

Myself, I'm often accosted in supermarkets etc by children I work with,who want a hug when they see me! It is sometimes alarming,but I usually look round to say hello to their parents!