Is it weird to WhatsApp guy I met in park

[Saturdaymorningsinthenineties]

Last week during school holidays I took my young Dd to a local park with playground, it’s a quiet one where many don’t go. Another little girl was there and Dd began playing with her, her dad then came up and was really friendly and great to talk to.
I live in another country and he spoke great English, although from a different country to the country we both live in now. Our DD’s are the same age and we had a good discussion about schools/life where we are and agreed on many of the issues about schooling etc. He was really interesting and easy to talk to (as have other mums I’ve met at playgrounds etc been to) and the girls got on great. As we were leaving I said maybe we should swap numbers, mainly concerning possible future plans he may have to homeschool with some other parents he’s met, it’s unlikely to happen for my Dd, but is an option depending on how her first year in primary goes in September. He was very open to it and said they would be there every morning that week. We didn’t end up being able to go again and it’s back to school next week.
Should I WhatsApp him? But say what? I feel a bit rude to have not messaged, but also it seems a bit strange? I also never ask for peoples number and don’t understand why I did really

@Upinthenightagain I’m not bored, I didn’t get chance to get back to the park.
If it was a woman, there would be no qualms about messaging, it’s because it’s a man, I feel weird

Odd. Just because you've swapped numbers doesn't mean you have to message him?
Unless you want to of course then go ahead and message him. I'm presuming you are an adult capable of making decision's like that?

From your first post I was assuming you took his number to arrange to get the kids together again since they got on so well. I did this with a dad we met at roller skating. It was the second time we'd met and he mentioned that his daughter is autistic and struggled to make friends, had been talking about my daughter all week since we'd met the previous week. I suggested swapping numbers so that we could let each other know if we were going to be at roller skating to help him manage his daughter's expectations. Since then we've met up to take the kids and dogs for a walk together. He's a nice bloke, easy to talk to, no different from getting the kids together with another mum. We're both married and it genuinely hadn't occurred to me to think about the appropriateness because that's just not on my radar at all and I'd be horrified if it was on his.

@RobbieisWright We didn’t swap numbers though, I only took his as didn’t have phone with me (screen was being repaired) so the onus would be on me. Feel bit crappy to not text or turn up any of the days either

@Saturdaymorningsinthenineties it’s Ott to ask for numbers even if it’s a woman. It’s definitely worse that it’s a bloke though. Comes over as you do have designs on him. I’ve chatted to loads of mums and dads at the park. My dd is very outgoing and friendly so always finds a friend there. You just say we’ll see them again sometime. It’s different if you meet at an extra curricular activity or playgroup and see them weekly, then maybe you ask for numbers.

@Upinthenightagain It didn’t feel
like that at all, the girls got on so well, as did we, like a friend I suppose. We were sat there for over two hours, it’s not that weird. Also because we’re in a big ex pat type community, many people often make friends like this, it’s a different life to living back home, I can’t imagine doing it as much there

@ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine Yes it was like this, girls got on really well, he was easy to talk to, just that really

Well if there's nothing you want from him you have no need or reason to text him so I'd just leave it.

For those saying do not message because they are different sexes, l am a bisexual woman (shock horror, we do exist!), does this mean l can’t swap numbers with anyone, because l obviously want to get everybody l meet into bed?????

OK just.take a minute he didn't give you his number because it was "broken " he said he would be at the park if you happened to be there, you didn't go t he isn't your friend that you have let down he's a random person you met in the park and you are obsessing over it.

@Mrsjayy I didn’t have my phone and don’t know my number off by heart. He had his phone so wrote his number down on a piece of paper

@IncompleteSenten There’s nothing I want or need, but I was wondering if it was rude not to even acknowledge it as I had his number and also didn’t turn up any of the remaining days of the holidays

Ah sorry I mis read I still think unless you want the kids to play you need to leave it.

Why the shock horror, many of us are bi.

Op is weirdly obsessing over this guy and how interesting he is and how she feels she's let him down by not showing up, yet very, very insistent that she definitly doesnt fancy him. That's the odd thing here.

A couple of hours conversation with a passing random while the kids play is one thing, this level of afterthought is another entirely.

I would say this, totally harmless and nice text and makes sense.

Wow. You think they are both in marriages with immature, paranoid spouses?

Bullshit. Have you seen the amount of over-thinking that goes into platonic female friendships/casual encounters with other mums in this forum?

Having been part of an expat community myself OP I’d say that following up meeting new people is entirely normal and nothing to over-think. I’d stick the number in my phone and send a short message saying “Hi Bob, good to meet you and [daughter] the other day, just letting you have my number in case the girls want to play again.” Done.

@InTheShallowTheShalalalalalalalow I don’t think im obsessing at all! Just asking here

@Saturdaymorningsinthenineties there's nothing wrong with messaging, maybe arrange a play date if the dc got on so well? Same as you would another mum.

Ok I might send a brief text

Go for it OP! I think brevity is the answer.

This is the weird part, I feel a bit nervous, but I honestly don’t feel like I fancy him…no physical attraction etc, just feels weird

Invite him and his wife over to a double dinner date or something?

You are overthinking it, perhaps because he is male? If you'd met another mother and swapped numbers what would you do?

There's no secrecy here, you've met because your kids were playing together, you've both mentioned you have partners. Just drop a message over and suggest another play date for the kids. Or invite him and his wife and child over to yours for lunch where the kids play and the adults can socialise too.

I love meeting new friends!