School parent deliberately coughing on me every morning

[Happyluce]

A school parent keeps deliberately coughing on me. We stand outside the gates and then in the play ground waiting to go in and they don’t cough for all that time. But As soon as they are next to me they fake cough really loud without covering their mouth or they deliberately clear their throat really loud behind me. This keeps happening every morning. I feel like it’s a way of trying to bully me without speaking to me. What would you do?

The idea that he is somehow coughing near you in the playground to intimidate you, with no history, never spoken a word to him etc is... Unlikely to say the least. He probably hasn't got the slightest clue who you are other than maybe 'wee Timmy's mum'

The coughing might be annoying but I'd bet my last penny it's got absolutely nothing to do you with OP

I’d not stand anywhere near this ignorant person. Move away promptly if they approach you or if you see or spot them.

Prick.

I believe you that this is happening and it is hugely annoying. I would move away from his person. If they follow you, ask them why. If they ask what's bothering you, say the coughing is.

Just say 'excuse me, would you mind covering your mouth when you cough please, thank you!' and see what he says.

spray him with hand sanitiser

So passive. Just move.

OP when he starts leave the queue and go to the back - and do this every day until he gets the hint.

Maybe he fancies you and it's a way of getting your attention? Who could resist?

Too polite. I'd recoil and look at him and say that's disgusting.

Loudly say ‘excuse you’ and take a patronisingly long step sideways or backwards 😂

If it was behind me then it wouldn’t bother me and you don’t know he’s not covering his mouth.

If he’s 100% just doing it around you then you’re either triggering his cough or he’s trying to get your attention.

I doubt he’s trying to bully you, unless there is a big back story.

I would 100% do this, but would channel my inner Julian Clary and very politely suggest that sucking a Fisherman's friend would certainly bring him instant relief.

This is very much one of those posts where I feel like the OP has a lot more going on than just someone 'coughing on them'. My guess is that the cougher's interpretation of these events is very different from hers.

😆

He sounds disgusting. I pity his poor partner and children.

Are you on your own at the time? Can you stand with a friend?

Make sure he's several people in front of you, then you can choose to stand away from him when you get to the front and are waiting for your DC to come out.

If it's a very small area, stand behind him so he can't see or cough on you.

Or have a cough sweet ready, then when he opens his mouth to cough throw it straight in, as hard as you can.

Very weird, I think maybe someone else has said something about you to him and now he is sarcastically coughing as he is a total knobhead.

Or its a coincidence, hard to tell if not witnessing it.

I would act like he is literally invisible , if he is doing it on purpose he wants a reaction and to know he has bothered you, like all bullies/passive aggressive dicks.

Start retching uncontrollably whenever the do it.

I had this with a dad I had a run in with once over his 6 year old swearing at my dd and threatening to throw her off the top of the climbing structure. Since then he will take any opportunity to stand RIGHT BEHIND me to cough on me, he'll throw water on my feet, shout to his dd in my direct ear when he is RIGHT behind me. He's a nasty twat with nasty kids and I just have to more away when I see him. Funnily enough he won't do it when a man is near me.

Don't stand near them.

You're being strangely passive in these encounters, OP. What's stopping you stepping out of the line and standing behind him? Have you asked another (friendly) parent if they have noticed any odd behaviour with this man?

This sounds like paranoia to me

Raised eyebrows 'please cover your mouth'

What a strange post, so your saying he's coughing deliberately? Why do you go anywhere near him if you think this?

I just knew this would be a bloke before you said. God, there are some creeps about. I'm sure you're right that it's deliberate and directed at you, your instincts have alerted you to some behaviour that is not right. He is probably choosing it precisely because it is almost unnoticeable, especially by others. I'm really sorry you are experiencing this, it is a type of harassment essentially. Not sure what to advise about how to deal with it, perhaps other PP have some ideas. I agree with PP that it's attention seeking.