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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is he just being 'nice'?

125 replies

moominmummie · 05/06/2023 21:00

The other night the guy who lives over the road (who also happens to be gorgeous & single) randomly knocked on my door & asked for a first aid kit for his son who had a minor accident. I gave him what I had (bandages & tape). That was the first time we have ever really spoken. Today I was surprised to find on my porch a brand new first aid kit & a lovely note attached thanking me. It definitely put a smile on my face.

My question is what should I do in return? & am I being unreasonable to think this could be more than a kind neighbourly gesture? Or is he just being nice?

I've been on my own for so long I've forgotten how to interact or properly judge any situation involving the male species 😂

OP posts:
fifteenfifty · 05/06/2023 21:00

I love this! Bet he likes you.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 05/06/2023 21:00

He's just being neighbourly I think

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 05/06/2023 21:02

fifteenfifty · 05/06/2023 21:00

I love this! Bet he likes you.

Really? I bought my neighbour beer because he helped me change a flat tyre last week. I hope he doesn't think I've got the hots for him!

Happyhappyeveryday · 05/06/2023 21:07

I think he might just be being neighbourly, but I missed all my NDN’s signals when we’d both split with partners and he turned up at my door, stripped to the waist, looking amazing, on some vague pretext. So don’t listen to me, basically…

Gingergirl70 · 05/06/2023 21:14

And what do you suggest you do in return? What would you like to do? Surely, only a 'thank you, hope your son is ok now' would suffice? Unless you mean you'd like to ask him out? That's allowed too - it is 2023, after all. But be prepared for future awkward encounters in the street if he was only being a nice neighbour and has no interest in you romantically.

Original poster
moominmummie · 05/06/2023 21:16

@Gingergirl70 that's exactly why I will probably just say thank you hope your son is ok now. It's safer.

OP posts:
ChopSuey2 · 05/06/2023 23:17

I'd love this to be the start of a romance but the fact he left the first aid kit on the porch rather than knocking on the door to speak to you makes me think he's being neighbourly. Nevertheless, I'd probably make a bit more effort to speak to him if I saw him in passing because either there is something there or there isn't but you've potentially got a new local friend.

MaxwellCat · 06/06/2023 16:37

You haven't given anything to say he is being anything but friendly tbh I'm sure if he was interested he would have waited till he saw you? Just be friendly next time you see him

MolkosTeenageAngst · 06/06/2023 16:40

I expect that after he had to borrow your first aid items he promptly went out and ordered his own and picked up a set for you at the same time as a thank you. I wouldn’t read anything more into it. You don’t need to do anything more in return beyond a thank you and asking after his son next time you bump into them.

WunWun · 06/06/2023 16:42

I would definitely just say thank you and not think it was anything more. Its a good foot in the door to speak from now on though ;)

Toxicityofourcity · 06/06/2023 16:44

Oh, I'd love this to be the start of a romance!!!

Q: are there other houses he could have gone to for the first aid items?

Original poster
moominmummie · 07/06/2023 12:51

He only came to my house.

Also a few days earlier his son randomly asked my daughter over to play while she was playing out front. (They've never met before) She said no thank you then came and told me, I said next time you can say yes if you like just ask me.

So that's 3 things I'm just taking as being nice...?

I haven't seen him since so haven't had the chance to say thank you which is annoying as I feel rude now.

OP posts:
Original poster
moominmummie · 07/06/2023 12:54

@Toxicityofourcity sorry I miss read that, yes I live on a row of about 6 houses.

OP posts:
MaxwellCat · 07/06/2023 13:02

You think he asked his son to ask your daughter over because he fancies you?

Twisyturn · 07/06/2023 13:06

How old is your dd? How old is his ds?

PleasantOwl · 07/06/2023 13:11

He’s being neighbourly.

I bought the bloke next door a bottle of wine for sorting out a problem with my house alarm when I was on holiday.

I don’t fancy him.

CallieQ · 07/06/2023 13:14

Ask him over for coffee...

OhComeOnFFS · 07/06/2023 13:17

PleasantOwl · 07/06/2023 13:11

He’s being neighbourly.

I bought the bloke next door a bottle of wine for sorting out a problem with my house alarm when I was on holiday.

I don’t fancy him.

You can't possibly say he is just being friendly on the basis that you are just friendly when you do the same. The whole point is that nobody knows what he's thinking.

StarDolphins · 07/06/2023 13:22

I think get him some beers to say thanks for the first aid kit

Then he should get you some flowers to say thank you for the beers,

Then you leave him a bottle of wine to say thank you for for the flowers…..

Then eventually you get chatting more, have a relationship, he moves in, you get married. Then 5 years later come here moaning how crap he is. Then get divorced🤣

Just kidding! I think just say thank you when you see him & then see what develops. Wish someone nice would move in on my road! Good luck!

Original poster
moominmummie · 07/06/2023 13:30

@MaxwellCat I'm not completely dismissing that idea no

OP posts:
Ohwelldone · 07/06/2023 13:31

I think you'd have to talk to him more, so just say thank you when you see him & see if he starts anymore conversations..
I think the thing with his son asking your daughter to play probably had nothing to do with him, & he probably chose your house over the others because he knows you have a child around the same age, so thought you'd be best bet for a first aid kit. I don't think you can judge whether he's interested on these things!

TheSnowyOwl · 07/06/2023 13:34

I think he’s just being neighbourly. If he wanted more, the likelihood is that he would have given you the first aid kit when you were home so he could talk/flirt to you then. I expect he asked you in the first place because he knew you had a similar aged child.

Original poster
moominmummie · 07/06/2023 20:21

So he asked for my number...is that neighbourly?

OP posts:
Badtasteflump · 07/06/2023 20:37

Ooh what a fabulous update! 😁 I would say that's more than just being neighbourly.... But you know you need to tell us the whole story now..?

MovinGroovinBarbie · 07/06/2023 20:39

Plot twist. He injured his son to create a credible story!