To think this elderly man is up to no good?

[PartyOnDotCom]

My son is 11, he rides his bike to school (he used to walk) but he has passed that Bikeability thing and so I said he can ride.

On Friday, he rode his bike to school and his chain had come off and this was right outside a parade of shops (quite busy during the morning). He slipped on the curb (he looked down at wire). A man came over to help him put it back on (really kind of him) and he went off to school. He waited outside school for friend (like every morning) and the the man said he was just checking he got to school okay.

When I collected him on after school (I collected him on a Friday as he can't ride with his PE kit, so he rides home and I walk dog and carry PE kit). He was there again and came up to me and explained what happened and asked if I needed him to watch out for him in the mornings. I think he is probably just being nice, isn't he? I just don't know why I feels the need to follow him.

I've noticed you can be thought of as 'old' from about 50 onwards here.
Poor man was probably only about 65 - doing his own thing and being helpful.
Old people sticking to routines... surely that depends on the person?

That's something that would have happened when I was young (I'm 47).

But there wouldn't have been a need, because there'd be an older woman standing out in her path, chatting to you and asking if you were ok.

I agree with making sure your Son understands that even if he sees him every day for months, he is still a stranger.

Polite chatting is fine, but that's were it ends.

""Old people sticking to routines... surely that depends on the person?""

From about 75, or younger and suffering from ill health, people do tend to move into fixed routines.

Not in my family birds
I doubt we are an exception?

Sorry. That looked argumentative.
I was just thinking.

Heehighls, as far as I'm concerned ( and I expect an awful lot of other people...) there is no issue of women not liking women over 50 approaching them or their children. I've never heard such nonsense.

And why is it only women who are concerned about contact?

Because it's unreadable! Try reading your post yourself op

If he was 'up to no good' surely he wouldn't have come up to you? Sounds like a kind old man to me, nothing sinister going on

So sad this attitude. It's not new though. The only kind relative I've ever had was my maternal grandfather. He was very upset when he came home from his allotment one day having been treated like some kind of dangerous pervert because he'd offered his boiled sweets to some children. This would have been in the early 1960's so over 50 years ago. Not all men are deviants, some of them actually like children in an entirely benign way i.e. they're kindhearted and sweet-natured.

A man came over to help him put it back on What a kind man.

He followed him to school that morning (said to DS when outside of school that he was just checking he got to school okay) Ok, a little odd, but I suppose he could have been worried that the chain wouldn't hold up, that your son would be stuck again and he had some spare time on his hands.

and was then magically there at the time of pick up... And here is where it goes from 'benefit of the doubt' to 'questionable behaviour'.

I think that there is a marked difference between an innocent, casual encounter in the park between a friendly adult walking his dog and some kids wanting to pet it and have a chat (as a previous poster talked about), and an adult doing what this man has done. Age is irrelevant, I wouldn't care if the man was 24 or 94; it's odd.

And I hate this scornful attitude that is often displayed when people question others actions around children 'Oh, you're not one of those DM readers who believe that a paedophile is on every corner, are you?' Sadly, either direct or indirect experience has taught many of us that paedophiles are indeed on every sodding corner. If that hasn't been your experience, then that's great. You're very lucky or naive

Next time maybe he should just leave your son hurt

Helping him with his bike = nice.

Following him to school and waiting for him at the end of the day = suspicious

I would make sure your son knows this man isn't his friend, and tells you if he follows him again.

"Do you honestly think he is going to abduct your 11yr old ds?"

Because the man is old? Because the child is a boy? Because he's 11? Because he's been seen during daytime? Because the old man was helpful? Because he sopke to mum?

No, nobody who's ever abducted a child/been abducted as a child has ever fit any of those... no OP probably doesn't think the old man is just going to up and take her son but it is odd behaviour overall and I would find it strange as well.

He sounds bored and lonely to me.

My mum's last neighbour used to spend hours in her front garden looking for anyone to pass the time of day with. If there was no one there then she'd talk to the birds or the cat.

Did she follow any kids to school and hang around the gates at home time Saucy?