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

The texts are fine, I agree.

It's the way OP's behaving that rings alarm bells to me.

@fieldsofbutterflies 100% agree

I wouldn’t think twice about text a dad from a playground let alone analyse his text messages about a playdate!

I wouldn't but then I wouldn't and haven't ever swapped numbers with a parent I've met in the park; male or female but I seem to be on my own with that!

Every single friend we have used to be a stranger to us first.

I think OP is simply overthinking because she's in a new country, she doesn't want to come across and pushy, and that's understandable.

I think it’s just literally because it’s a man, not a mum, which is ridiculous I know, unless I subconsciously have a crush 🤷🏻‍♀️

The conversation and the friendship are both fine, you have nothing to worry about.

But just to let you know I can read his name and both girl's names and possibly your's with very little effort. So if you're worried about privacy I'd request those screenshots be deleted.

Lol. I can’t even imagine what my reaction would be if my husband started texting some random woman he met in the park.

@HoHoHoliday Deleted, thank you so much

@LittleMissCantBeWrong1 For play dates for the kids?

If you genuinely don't fancy this man, THIS is the perfect message to send. Inviting your families to get together, so your girls can play, and your spouses can meet. You'd soon stop feeling so nervous about him lol

Is it possible I do fancy him/have a connection? I’m wondering why it’s in my thoughts

I’m not sure it is. When my kids were little, I had a stay at home dad friend who was excluded from loads of stuff simply because he was a man. There was this idea that if he was invited it would ruffle feathers. Or be because people fancied him (he didn’t say this, I heard it from my friends.)

The overthinking is understandable when we live in a world that thinks male/female relationships must have some underlying motive.

OP, text him or don’t text him. Would you if he was a mum? Then do.

Ah, okay. I posted before you said this. Don’t text him then. No good will come of that.

None of that explains why he makes her feel all weird and why she can’t stop thinking about him, though.

But again, that doesn’t explain why she’s been thinking about him all week and is clearly still thinking about him now. Plus she’s said he makes her feel all weird.

To me, it reads like she feels they had a connection and she has a bit of a crush - which would be fine if they were both single, but they’re both married!

Yup.

You deffo fancy him.

Knock it off.

@Emptyheadlock Should I just leave it now, I mean I won’t message again, doubt he would? Would have to avoid that playground though!

Yes, you’re so right. I posted without seeing her update. She needs to step away. Sorry I quoted you without all the facts. That was wrong.

No need to apologise! ☺️

Of course you fancy him in some way, you’ve pretty much just said it’s a possibility.

I’m sorry but this whole thing is inappropriate and if I was his wife or your husband, I wouldn’t be happy at all. This is how affairs start.

@SavvyBismyfave We’re not married, but with partners

His messages are simple friendliness, so obviously doesn’t go both ways

No, you're just conditioned to think that there has to be something sexual because you're a woman and he's a man and you're heterosexuals

Agreed. Trust your gut. You said there was nothing there op. I said upthread a couple of friends and I met up with a guy a few times when the kids were little, went round his house once. There was absolutely nothing in it. He was nice and found it difficult to connect with other SAHPs because most of them are female. It was a good experience for his and brought another dimension to our conversations. He was one of the most straight up people you could meet, not a devious bone in his body.

i think @TimeandMotion has it spot on upthread.

if it is appropriate in your ex pat community and your partner is ok with it, It might be nice to get the girls together and for you to have someone to talk to. Involve Partners too maybe. I think men and women CAN be purely platonic but sex/gender often gets in the way in some way so text if you want to foster a friendship, leave it if you think you may subconsciously fancy him.
Simple :)
I wouldn’t do that in the park here as I live in SE England and it would be considered unorthodox at best or desperate at worst 🤣 but you have said it’s more normative in your community.