Bizarre, Creepy Incident w/My DD and Potential Pervert (long)

[va32h]

This is so weird, I don't even know what to make of it.

I had to go to a law office today, to drop of a check, sign some papers, and pick up some other papers to take home with me. I brought my 2.5 yo daughter with me.

We got to the office, and I spoke to the receptionist, who was expecting me and had all the paperwork ready. She had to make me a receipt, and show me where to sign and initial the papers, and while we're doing this, , my daughter is wandering around a bit, but not too far from me, and another man who works for the firm (but whom I don't know) comes out to the reception area, and sees my dd and starts talking to her.

I was concentrating mainly on the paperwork, but I am paying enough attention to hear the guy say "would you like to take a picture of your hands?" DD nods her head, and he holds out his hand, and she takes it and they go around the corner, out of sight.

Well my mommy radar went off at that, but I wasn't alarmed enough to sprint after them. I just wasn't comfortable. So I quickly finished signing the papers and went after them.

The guy was holding my daughter up against the copier, while she had her palms on the screen. My gut reaction was that it was just wrong. The way he was holding her, in front of himself, if you get my drift. It just looked really wrong.

I was quite shocked actually. I basically froze. I managed to choke out something like "All Done! Let's Go!" and they looked over at me, and the guy put her down and gave her the copy of her hands and she brought it over to me cheerful as can be. I swear the guy looked flushed and flustered - surprised by me? Inappropriately excited about the whole thing? Just my mind playing tricks on me? I don't know. But it felt weird and highly uncomfortable.

Then the receptionist comes in behind me, with the papers I need to take home, and asking if I have any other questions. The guy says to me "it's okay, ***** and I can make more pictures", but I say "No, we are ready to leave" and pick my daughter up and practically run out of there.

Now I've told this story to two people so far. One person thought that the guy was a complete pervert, and that I should call the firm back and complain. Another person thought it was no big deal at all, and that I was being paranoid.

My daughter is oblivious to the whole thing. She just likes the picture of her hands. But I just got such a bad feeling when I saw her with that guy...

So, should I say something to my lawyer, or just forget about it, or switch firms or what?

 

[Minnesota!]

I think he should have asked you if he could help her make copies of her hands, but I don't think what he actually did was wrong. Although, I wasn't there to witness, so I can't say for sure.

Sure is hard to be a mom these days, huh? Can't trust anyone.

 

[floridafam]

He should have asked you if it was okay to take her to another room.

IMO, he should have walked with her if you said it was alright-not carried her. Maybe that's just my way of thinking.

He sounds like a perv-I would say something to your lawyer.

Did you ask your DD if everything was okay??

Sorry this happened to you.

 

[beckmrk04]

I'm with Minnesota- it could have been completely innocent. Sounds like something my dh would do- he just loves to play with kids.

BUT- you were there, and you saw it, so ?????? You have to do whatever your gut tells you.

If it were me I wouldn't call to complain about would really could be nothing, but I would be super watchful from here on out.

 

[LukenDC]

Trust your instincts. It does sound unusual. I would not, however, call the law office unless I was certain that something inappropriate had happened. Suggesting that someone is a pedophile is one of the most serious accusations that you can make. Even the hint of pedophilia is enough to destroy someone's life and career.

If you go back to that law office, either don't take your daughter or do not let her out of your sight.

 

[TiggerTails57]

Just don't take your DD there any more.............there is no way to know what was on his mind.

 

[kimmikayb]

In todays world we often ignore our "gut feelings" because we think we're being too paranoid or overly cautious. But trust those mommy instints, you get them for a reason.

Do you like your attorney? Keep him if you do. Don't take your daughter there again. I'm not sure what complaining will accomplish but you could probably mention you weren't comfortable with Mr. XXX taking your daughter out of your sight.

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

I agree with the other posters, it could be completely innocent (the guy could just be really friendly) or he could be a perv......at this point I wouldn't complain or anything, because you don't have much concrete evidence so I doubt they would take your concerns very seriously, but I would definitely keep an eye out for any other suspicious behavior

So sad that we even need to worry about this type of thing......

 

[Gaspode]

IMHO I would call and complain that he took your daughter out of your sight without asking you first. That is the main problem here.

Although I would be highly freaked out by it all and worried about it as you are I agree with LukenDC that making a claim/accusation of him being perverted is perhaps taking it a touch too far (in all likelihood he is completely innocent and just likes kids) without proof of that.

BUT he should not be taking little children away from their parents without permission and I really think you should call the firm to say so and have them deal with him/pass that message on so that he doesn't do it again. It is not on whether innocent or not.

Best of luck and some s for you!
Gaspodé

 

[beckmrk04]

Trust your instincts. It does sound unusual. I would not, however, call the law office unless I was certain that something inappropriate had happened. Suggesting that someone is a pedophile is one of the most serious accusations that you can make. Even the hint of pedophilia is enough to destroy someone's life and career.

If you go back to that law office, either don't take your daughter or do not let her out of your sight.

I completely agree. An accusation could be sooo damaging and hurtful if you are not 100% POSITIVE something else was going on. Maybe he has a kid your dd's age- and they love making pictures, so he thought your dd would love it too?

But, again, you have to trust your own judgement. I would just either never take dd back there, or watch her like a hawk if you have no other choice but to take her with you.

 

[GEM]

Honestly, it doesn't sound like anything at all to me. Maybe I'm just not picking up on the vibe, not being there in person, but what he did doesn't sound creepy or anything to me.

 

[Cool-Beans]

He might be a pervert, but he might just be a nice guy.

You were there, you know best.

I sure wouldn't complain to the firm unless I was absolutely positive he'd done something wrong. That isn't the kind of thing I'd toss out lightly.

 

[Cass]

Mother's intuition... I think you are probably right, but you don't have enough evidence to say anything to the law firm.

 

[va32h]

Did you ask your DD if everything was okay??

Well she's 2. Although she is quite verbal, I doubt she would understand what I was asking, in that context.

I would not, however, call the law office unless I was certain that something inappropriate had happened. Suggesting that someone is a pedophile is one of the most serious accusations that you can make. Even the hint of pedophilia is enough to destroy someone's life and career.

This is pretty much how I feel about it - totally creeped out, but unwilling to make such an accusation on nothing more than an ambiguous situation and my gut feeling.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

without really knowing what happened in persona nd just reading, i would say just don't take DD there anymore, you really don't know. What a world we live in now huh?

 

[va32h]

Honestly, it doesn't sound like anything at all to me. Maybe I'm just not picking up on the vibe, not being there in person, but what he did doesn't sound creepy or anything to me.

Believe me, I spent the whole drive home rationalizing that it was perfectly innocent. But there was just something in the way he was holding her up - she was facing the copier, but he was behind her, right up against her - closer than he needed to be - it just looked so wrong. And just the look on his face...ugh. It just didn't feel right.

I do like my lawyer, when I have my next appointment I will definitely go alone, but I still haven't worked out what (if anything) I am going to say about it.

 

[RadioNate]

It sounds completely innocent to me BUT if your gut is telling you something isn't right, please trust that. I wouldn't bring you DD with you any more and if you have to bring her I'd make sure that she stays with you and go any where with him.

There is no shame in saying that you'd prefer her to stay with you.

I have someone in my life who just makes me uncomfortable and gives off that creepy vibe. He often offers to take my DS places. For example once we were discussing roller skating and my ds said he'd like to try. So this guy offered to take him. Most people see him as being helpful and friendly and someone who loves kids but something just creeps me out. So even though we are forced to be together in some situations (he is a spouse of a family member) I just keep DS with me.

I'm sure my family things I'm an overprotective ninny as I haven't really shared my concerns but I don't care. I know my DS is safe.

 

[jennobrn01]

always trust your gut in those circumstances. i am so sorry you had such a frightening experience. good for you for staying cool, and getting your daughter out of the situation.

several year ago i had my innocence completley shattered in thinking that those people aren't close to me. i am super vigilant now.

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

I have to agree with the person who said this is the type of thing her DH would do! My DH is fantastic with kids - they seem to gravitate towards him and he always seems to know how to talk to them. He would probably have seen you DD looking 'bored' whilst she waited for you and thought of a way to amuse her for a few minutes. The fact that the photocopier was round the corner wouldn't have crossed his mind!

And in order to take a copy of her hands he would need to hold her up in front of him surely?

I would have been annoyed he'd took her out of site but I don't think I'd have made the huge jump to thinking 'PAEDOPHILE!' without a bit more 'evidence'.

As others have said, I would make a comment that you didn't like your DD being taken out of site and leave it there!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I hope this makes you feel better.

I took my DS3 for a speech evaluation. The girl evaluating him lifted him up in the same manner to make a copy of his hands. She also asked him to help her make some copies. It was the same scenario but different sexes. I never thought anything of it!

He's probably a man with children of his own.

Lori