Is it normal to fear being near / looking at children?

I know what you mean, I do now after something that happened a few months back, cant remember if I talked about it on here before though, but I was on my way to a friends house, to get there I pass a field with a playground on it, I saw a group of about 10 children aged around 6-8 playing bulldog, it was a game I used to play in lower school and hadn't thought of since so it unlocked a memory, plus I was having a shit day and it was just cool to see kids having fun and laughing, I glanced over and smiled to myself when a mother of one of the children gave me the worst facial expression I've ever seen, a mixture of disgust and pure anger like I've never seen before, its seen as suspicious when a man does that but less so for a woman.

I'll never forget that look, the high strung and almost paranoid state of society and social expectations actually made me feel in the wrong when she looked at me for a split second, even though I knew it was perfectly innocent

http://youtu.be/XCywGhHQMEw

You are NOT alone. For starters, I've dealt with this on a number of occasions. Ironically, those that actually know me tell me I should work with kids.

That father at the restaurant you spoke of is such a cunt it's unbelievable. When next you see him, perhaps you could make it clear that statistically, he's a much greater danger to his kids than you are.

If it makes you feel better everyone man or woman is a stranger to me and a potential threat. Unless they have a child with them I find it strange if they start talking to my daughter.
I wouldnt have made you move that sounds rude.

My bf is afraid of such things as well...and from his own daughter too... like one time she was out with him and said "daddy tickles me in the bathroom." He told me the guys around him looked at him weird he was so uncomfortable, and he tried to shhhh her . When he told me that I laughed and laughed... the story she was playing hid n seek with him and he found her hiding in the tub and tickled her. I do it all the time too...im going to get you! Then they go hid you find them and you tickle them...an inoccent game. I felt bad for him but it made me laugh.

Another time she needed new underwear and my brother and bf were going to the store anyway so I asked them to pick some up. (She was still new to them and would have the occasional accident) well when they got back they both told me...never again!!! Because 2 guys buying little girls underwear gets you some weird looks.

Its probably because the world is on high paedo alert after all these high profile cases. And you are just reacting to that.

I get that. I have always been a very awkward person, and I've never really been around kids often. I've never had a younger sibling or anything like that. So, when kids would try to interact with me, I wouldn't quite know how to take them. People have asked me if I wanted to hold a baby before. I was just like, 'um... ok, i guess' lol. Then, in my head, I was all like 'what am I supposed to do? Coo at it or something?' I detest baby talk, so that's not an option...

I've gotten a little better since I started dating my girlfriend. Her brother has a little girl that is about 2. She's always over there, and you can't just ignore a 2 year old. Lol. That kiddo's laughter lights up the room :)

As for other peoples kids in public and stuff, I usually just ignore them mostly. Unless they say or do something funny, I'll laugh. You mostly just look at them like you would any other human being though, there's no real reason you should have to feel ashamed or anything like that. If their parents judge you, they probably just judge everyone[man] like that. It's understandable that they would be protective, however annoying it is that we get wrongly suspected of being potential predators.

This is a seriously shitty problem our society has. Now its not normal for a man to play with kids because he will look like a freakin criminal.
My dads neighbors always had it in for us so when their kids come over to see him( he's good with kids) I advise him to send them off quickly 'cause some people go around accusing others for their own gain and its sickening!
Just the other day I was admiring this kid biting his balloon and the father looks at me like an overprotective mother goose... I was going to collect my order so it was awkward afterwards .

I am so sorry that you've had to go through this. America's on high pedo alert and it's become a double edge sword for those who are innocent. I've never experienced this, but I'm a female and in my country, many think that only males are pedos. If you afford it and can find work, I suggest moving to another country that doesn't have this rampant behaviour towards men.

Same here, I can only add to what others have said.

i hate kids too there all loud annoying and smell like ketchup! im the same age as you and never once have i ever been treated that way by parents i would have flipped out on that mother! of course i avoid kids at any cost i won't look at them i won't speak to them even if there related to me.