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

Whenever I meet someone new, male or female & we exchange messages for the first time it feels thrilling in a way. It reminds me a bit of internet dating where it’s sort of exciting & new. This is regardless of whether I fancy them or not it’s just the novelty of adding someone new to your social circle.

So you asked for a man's number and your both not single 🤔 sorry but that's weird I'd be annoyed if it was my dh who gave his number out

Step away from messaging!

I think it makes a difference that you're expats, and most posters aren't considering that aspect.

I think your text was fine, not pointless as it was finishing swapping numbers. When I was an expat, there was one man who was main carer for the child while his wife worked. His experience was that it was harder to meet people to hang out with because they were mostly mothers (or nannies) and they tended to treat him slightly differently. I think that's understandable, but what I mean is that he probably won't assume you fancy him but might well be happy to have made another contact.

It’s fine that you sent the message. Having lived in an expat community myself, I would see this as even more normal than if you were living in the uk for example.

We moved back home before I had dd. A couple of female friends and I became friendly with a dad (SAHD) and hung around a few times with him and his ds. Idk if I even told my dh. It was so obvious to me I / we didn’t fancy him. We also met his wife / partner.

I think it makes a difference that you're expats, and most posters aren't considering that aspect.

I don't think them being expats makes it okay for her to still be thinking about her brief chat with this guy over a week later.

If this thread was from a woman saying her DH had swapped numbers with a stranger in the park and had been thinking about her all week, I doubt the replies would be so understanding.

Yes, this is weird.

Unless you have something to say about home schooling I would leave him alone.

Not at all, I know multiple dads who I text. The difference is, I didn't meet them and then message them for no reason except that I fancied them. She's taken a friendly chat at the playground and tried to turn it into a private chat between two adults that more resembles dating. After mooning over the bloke for a week. The message would be inappropriate enough, hearing here about her daydreaming over him is very sad.

I’m really shocked at the number of women here who think that (a) all male/female interaction has a sexual undertone and (b) being married means you are not allowed to enjoy meeting a new platonic friend and look to develop the friendship. Talk about insecure and controlling!

I don't think it has a sexual undertone, but I do think it's very unusual to be dwelling on a one-off conversation with a stranger a week later because it/they made you feel "weird".

@TimeandMotion completely agree. If my other half was "furious" and "wouldn't allow it" I'd be running a mile!

Back in the real world- the op fancies him and if he texts back he probably wouldn’t mind a leg over with a willing party

Some unusual responses here! He replied twice on a nice, friendly, normal parent way. Trying to screenshot the messages to show, but not sure how to cover/rub out names? Does anyone know how?

So if your husband took your daughter to the park and got chatting to another mum, took her number.... wanted to text/felt nervous about it...sent it anyway. Hoping for a response. What would you think?

Well, exactly.

I have plenty of male friends, but I didn't feel weird and nervous about messaging them or about what to say.

I’d be happy that he had met someone he got on with but unsurprised he was nervous about texting given how many people are determined to read sexual motives into everything.

What if he also said she made him feel "weird" and that he'd been thinking about talking to her all week? Which is what's happening in the OP.

Anyone?

You sound pretty obsessed with the interaction, to post the screenshots cements this and also inappropriate.

@Ditchi What is inappropriate? I’m showing that the messages aren’t?

I honestly find this really odd.

This bloke is a married stranger you've met once in a park. Why are you this invested in it all?

Ok

some very extreme responses on here. Nothing wrong with having male friends.

sounds like you get on well, you’ve both mentioned other halves so there’s no danger he got his wires crossed.

why wouldn’t you drop him a text? Just say sorry you didn’t make it to the park but would be nice to meet up for a play date soon.

no big deal at all.

This is a totally normal interaction.

nothing strange about it at all! Don’t overthink it or let people think it’s odd!

Having male friends is fine. I have plenty and will happily text them or meet up with them without DP.

But this isn't a friend, it's a stranger OP met in a park that she's been thinking about for a week because he makes her feel all "weird". She was also nervous about texting him and is now posting the texts on here so people will tell her they're just normal.

That's not how people behave when they've met a new, platonic friend. It's how they behave when they have a crush.