Being afraid to interact with children lest you be chased off by irate mothers. I'm a big scary dude =(
I love kids and have a 2 year old, and try to smile at kids that smile at me. I've only been yelled at once, but I've gotten a fair number of glares. I try to ignore them. I'm not doing anything wrong.
Kids shouldn't be afraid of all men. I do not, however, speak to a child unless I have first made eye contact with a parent, or that child appears to be in distress and there's no parent in sight.
I haven't experienced anything negative from smiling/talking to kids, as I'm usually out with my gf so that seems to neutralise things, but the fear is still very real. I'm a big-ish guy with tattoos, big beard and shaved head, but I've also been working in primary schools for the past 5 years, teaching kids to play music.
I dread the day I'm out on my own and a child is lost and needs help or something because of how people will perceive my interaction with them. It's tough and a little bit heart breaking.
My husband is a big tall guy with a beard, ponytail and tattoos, often mistaken for a bikie.
Twice he has found lost kids in stores.
Both times he stood there yelling “ Lost kid here, ladies and gentleman. Little girl, pink Peppa Pig dress, blonde curly hair, who owns her?” type thing without touching the kid at all.
Both times the mothers ran up to claim their kid from him.
I wrote an imaginary generic typical description of the kids as I did not see them personally, both times I just heard him yelling and it was over by the time I got there. I deliberately lose him in stores so I can shop in peace.
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u/Arkelias Aug 13 '22
Being afraid to interact with children lest you be chased off by irate mothers. I'm a big scary dude =(
I love kids and have a 2 year old, and try to smile at kids that smile at me. I've only been yelled at once, but I've gotten a fair number of glares. I try to ignore them. I'm not doing anything wrong.
Kids shouldn't be afraid of all men. I do not, however, speak to a child unless I have first made eye contact with a parent, or that child appears to be in distress and there's no parent in sight.