Am I reading too much into this?

[disykat]

While it seems weird, I can sort of see suggesting coffee if you felt like you really needed to sit down and chat without other students around. I can also see times where a dad might want to talk without mom present, but I'd be very careful and would sort of "force" an explanation for that by saying "I'll set up a time with your wife when she drops off your child". For example - if mom was having mental health issues and he's worried about the child.

If he seems to have reason for meeting, I would say "I have time to phone conference in the afternoons, call me around 3" or "why don't you put your concerns into an email for me and I can read it over and call you, what would be a good time to call?". Or say "I can meet you at the barn at 3, or would you prefer a phone conference?" Just obviously redirect to a barn meeting, a phone call, etc. while at the same time making it clear you are willing to "conference".

Making sure you say "conference" will make it clear that you are intending only to meet with parents about their child - nothing social.

Good luck - it's kind of creepy.

 

[Disney Doll]

I like disykat's solution.

Professional, willing to conference, but safer. make sure your DH is home when he's there.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Wlcruizer: HAHAHA!!! You so funny.... I think I'll stick with the meet-me-at-the-barn-when-DH-is-home solution, though. Not as entertaining an outcome for you guys, but a little less freaky for me.

Hi neighbor, sounds like you made up your mind already, but I'll post anyway. As a married man who sometimes meets with women (married and unmarried) for business purposes I am always careful never to be alone with any woman other than my wife. One reliable place to meet is a coffee shop. Me and -AFAIK -the women with whom I have met, have always felt comfortable meeting in such a setting. The guy may have been apprehensive about meeting at your barn because he wasn't sure if other people would be around . Anyhow, from conversing with you on the DIS I think you have a good head on your shoulders, so I'm sure you made the right decision.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

could it be that there is a problem and the mother is scared/embarrased to bring it up so she had the husband call? Maybe they feel the child isn't progressing quickly enough or you aren't advancing her as quickly as they would like but the mom doesn't want confrontation.

Just playing devils advocate about one of the reasons I ask my DH do something even if I'm the parent that normally handles the activity.

This is possible and you did figure out how he could have gotten your cell number. He might not even know it's a cell number. I often have a number for someone and I don't know if it's s home, business or cell numer. I just have the person's name along with the number, so I would say anything about him having that number, especially since you figured out how he likely got it.

I would say that you don't get into town often, but you can either meet him just before or after a riding lesson or you can have a phone meeting. Or you can suggest an e-mail discussion. Give him couple or few solutions that work for you. Make sure you give us a follow-up!

 

[FreshTressa]

I think you may be reading too much into his motives. He probably thought a coffee shop would be a nice, comfortable, public opportunity to talk to you, and to get to know you better, and to be able to talk to you one on one about his child without having other parents/children/duties to attend to.

However, if you are uncomfortable, and I don't blame you for feeling that way, schedule it at the barn, but make sure he knows that you are blocking that time off for him to discuss his child.

Denae

Yup...that is how I would feel. Or I'd say sure, my husband and I can meet you for coffee at such and such time.

 

[clutter]

Hi neighbor, sounds like you made up your mind already, but I'll post anyway. As a married man who sometimes meets with women (married and unmarried) for business purposes I am always careful never to be alone with any woman other than my wife. One reliable place to meet is a coffee shop.

And my bet is that he wants to talk to you about something he doesn't want the wife to know about. Some kind of concern, something financial, maybe they're splitting up and is afraid that the mom is bad mouthing him. Lots of thingsl like that. Hey, I didn't know I had such an overactive imagination!

 

[Jennasis]

Well I have solved the mystery! I called the mom today to let her know that I had gotten her husband's message, and to "apologize" for not getting back sooner since I rarely use my cell phone, unless I'm away from the barn (which is even rarer!). She said her DH had some questions about taking the next step in her training. Apparently they want to discuss a long term lease of one of my horses and he (being the $$ maker) wants to know what it will entail along with getting her involved with more horse shows (and what that will cost and when they will be). This makes absolute sense to me and I would definitely need to sit down with (preferably both of them) to give them all the details. A lease is a huge undertaking and I'm actually relieved to see them taking it so seriously.

Still not sure about coffee...but yeah, we need a sit down.

Ok...so to answer the OP: I DID read too much into this!

ETA: Now if you ever want to hear about the creepy delivery man, just let me know