School run dad crush

[Crushedontheschooldad]

OK, so, my son started school around 6 months ago and immediately a school run dad caught my eye. I know him indirectly through my ex!

Although we have never talked, we do glance, catch each others eye, smile which has kind of intensified over the last few weeks.

I've found that efforts are made on both side to kind of hang around waiting to catch each other before and after school. (I'm sure we aren't stalking each other?) Ie. If I'm late he is there waiting around, if I'm early, I find myself kicking my car tyres for 10 minutes until I've had my morning/afternoon fix.

We tend to park on the same road each day and walk the same route.. I've not started a conversation yet because - we'll basically I might make a fool of myself and I don't actually know his circumstances. I've never seen him with another woman to assume he has a gf or wife. Plus he knows my ex, could this be awkward? As this is a recent ex!

What would you do?

I actually do know where he works! He is in a similar job to myself, so that could be a great starting point. It's crazy how you forget how to communicate with people, especially those of the opposite sex.

I can't say that I have ever seen a ring, but some men don't like jewellery so I understand that it's still a possibility he could be attached.

This is a working progress and if anything, putting myself out of my comfort zone might help me in future, even if this doesn't work out.

@Treebranches yesterday would have been the perfect time for this to have happened, I'd left the car and forgotten something.

Could have gone with going back, but I knew he wasn't that far behind me and turning round would have meant face to face, possibly bumping into him.... so I walked faster!!!

That would’ve been a good opportunity! Just stay aware of any more that come up! Any tiny opening try and start a conversation like the other poster said, about work or something. Even better if you have similar jobs, anything new happening in the industry you can talk about? Is it a busy/quiet time? Etc.

You don't need to rush either - otherwise it might be forced. There's no time limit for flirting.... unless the summer hols are approaching!

Honestly, so similar to my situation, as we were also in the same industry so it gave plenty to talk about, especially around the a massive peak in workload that was coming up.

As said already, it's practice as much as anything - testing out what it's like to be around someone different to your ex etc

If he does it every day, he is either a single dad (uncommon but not impossible) or in a relationship and he does the school runs.
If he were separated then you'd see the mother doing the school run on her time.
Find out what his status is first.

A ring doesn't mean not married. He could be engaged pr in a long term relationship with the children's mother.

@KimCheese True, its not a race. But it has been 6 months or so.. something has got to give.

He's lovely to look at and I'm happy to keep glancing but someone has to make a move and I think I may be the one.

I'd first assume he's taken if he's got a child. There's a chance he's a single dad but more likely the kid's mum is in work or something. I'd probably just smile and say hi and not do anything more than that.

Have you checked FB? May garner some clues about him being married/single?

I have tried looking for him on Facebook, it appears he doesn't have any form of social media at all. So I'm completely in the dark.

Its likely that he is attached and that is fine. He will just be eye candy if that's the case! No harm in looking.

I was in a similar situation. I’m a single dad so do the school almost everyday. A couple of very cute women caught my eye but it’s hard to know who is single. My play was to befriend one of mums who knows everyone and ask her who the single mums were! She mentioned one of her friends was single, and she was someone who I’d thought was v cute. We’re going for coffee on Monday! Nothing might happen but it’s all fun! My advice would be do a bit more detective work and then if he’s single ask him for a drink.

@Slackbladder22 Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I wish it was that simple! He collects his child on a different playground, so the mums and dad's I'm familiar with won't know him. It won't be until my DS moves up until we are on the same playgrounds for pick up.

Wishing you all the best for Monday!

Yes that makes it a bit more complicated for sure, good luck though, fingers crossed for you. It’s so hard navigating these things as a single parent

Oh stop fannying about already. Ask him to go for coffee. Low stakes. Move on

Wouldn't it be funny if @Crushedontheschooldad and @Slackbladder22 were the actual two 🤪 ... I know ... very unlikely 😋

ooh it it's been 6 momnths, likely that he isn't single, he'd hae started something by now! even just some small talk.

sorry re typos!

Let us know how it goes

@custardbear IMAGINE. That would be some mums net story wouldn't it!!

Start with the small talk. He'll let you know soon enough if he's available and interested during this with casual remarks.

Are you in the same class as you're child or have you moved to secondary school?? ...so bloody immature people on here.

Oh how exciting 😊 I do hope he is single for you 😂

@CatAndHisKit not neccessarily, I've met lots of men who have said that they'd never make the first move! I was do a bit more digging first though to see if he's single, like @Slackbladder22 did.

Definitely small talk but about work.

Crazy did they say why? I don#t mean asking her out, but wouldn;t even start small talk, really? To me that would mean they weren't interested enough. Nothing to lose by starting some basic chat.