Awkward situation at football practise..

[footballmum87]

Usually dh brings dd to football but tonight he was late in so I brought dd while he stays home with the other dc and does dinner and bath.
Getting out the house for an hour at this time feels like a spa break, the training area overlooks the water and it's lovely sitting in the silence. I even managed to get one of the few spots right next to the pitch so I've a perfect view of dd.
So far so good then an elderly gentleman comes over and knocks on the window to say his dgs is training and can he sit in the car with me 😕 I don't recognise him but he says his wife has popped to the shops in the car and left him here. The dc don't need to be supervised at training so he could have went with her. It's also been bloody freezing here all day and he's out with just a sports hoody on with no jacket/gloves etc.
I stuttered and made a pathetic feeble excuse about needing to make a private call and that I wasn't comfortable having anyone in the car
He looked taken aback but went off and now keeps walking past my car.
What would you have done? I feel like a bitch for not wanting some random bloke in the car ruining my hours peace but it seems really mean 😕

No strangers in my car EVER. male female or any other blooming thing, not going to happen.

He'd have to have been living un der a rock not to know why a woman might have said no to that request. Plus even as a grandfather he could be in his 50's so certainly not elderly and frail.

Did he ask any of the dads there out of interest?

(Although I realise no ages are mentioned for the kids but being in his 60's certainly not a stretch)

I'd have done the same.

WHAT kind of man would approach a lone woman , total stranger sitting in her car, and ask to get in. Only nutcases or worse.

You did entirely the right thing @footballmum87. Don't give it another thought.

YANBU, how cheeky of him to even ask.

You did the right thing. He shouldn't have asked

Well done. Of course he can’t invite himself into your car.

You did the right thing. I wouldn't let someone into my car who I didn't know, either.

If a grown man hasn’t learned at his age that you need to wear a coat/warm clothes in November that is hardly your responsibility is it?

You're not mean and he is ridiculous.

Were you the ONLY person around the pitch parked up in a car?

There is zero chance I would open my car door to someone I didn't know, much less let them sit inside! Idiot (him, not you!)

@2bazookas

I'd have done the same.

WHAT kind of man would approach a lone woman , total stranger sitting in her car, and ask to get in. Only nutcases or worse.

I couldn't agree more. And even weirder is that he keeps walking past OP's car, not normal behaviour.

Don't feel mean. It was his choice to stay at football.

Pre Covid I would have let him, but now, not a chance. Much more worried about Covid than an elderly man sitting in my car.

@chillied

well done for asserting yourself OP. It's such a bizarre question from him that he should have asked it in a spirit of the answer probably being no, rather than moping around afterwards

Also dangerous for a lone female to let a male into her car. so well done.

Exactly this. Well done, and what a weirdo for asking

What advise would you give to your dd our ds in a similar situation. You do not let strangers in like this. The fact that he asks already means something is wrong as many have said.

You can see him walking around. You know this is not an elderly man in distress

You did the right thing. He could have been anyone.

Interesting that he didn't ask any of the men if he could sit in their cars

I'm getting the chills at the very thought of what could happen
if someone like that had ill intent.
You'd have been a trapped sitting duck - and a dead duck in about 2 minutes.

Just another poster saying it was an utterly bizarre request and you weren't at all out of order saying no!

You did the right thing. How bizarre to ask that. Not your responsibility to put yourself in an uncomfortable position because he wasnt prepared. I wouldn’t let a male or female of any age do this!

I’d not have let him in the car but I would have checked he wasn’t feeling unwell (faint, low blood sugar, migraine etc.) and looking for somewhere to rest while feeling confused. If he felt fine then absolutely not. If he felt unwell I’d get out the car to help him.

Ooooh how awkward - no I'd not have wanted a total stranger in my car. You did well to say no.

@Franklyfrost

I’d not have let him in the car but I would have checked he wasn’t feeling unwell (faint, low blood sugar, migraine etc.) and looking for somewhere to rest while feeling confused. If he felt fine then absolutely not. If he felt unwell I’d get out the car to help him.

At work (NHS) we had very good lone worker precautions and training. Only one of the team was ever attacked and they were attacked because an oldish man stopped his car and said he needed help, he didn't feel well. The teamie got out of the car and was attacked by the "unwell" man who, it turend out had a mental health issue and a grudge against NHS staff. Teamie was our only male member and build like a brick outhouse. He said he had felt safe because he was a man....... Honestly I know it sounds awful, but even when people say they feel ill, if you are alone be careful

You definitely did the right thing. If you had allowed him, it could happen again and it would be more difficult the next time to say no as the precedence would have been set.