That was so weird. I have never had anyone pat my ass except my husband or a lech when I was much younger. I see some men do it in sports and I have always thought it was so strange, but I don’t like to high five either.
I perceived Gavin as just having nervous energy and maybe embarrassed, and for whatever reason patting the kid was his response. I don’t think it was sexual, but I think for the kid it was at minimum awkward, and I do think it was inappropriate, but men do weird inappropriate things all of the time that I don’t understand.
It seems go be some sort of long standing thing for politicians to interact with children. Holding other people’s babies is the most common that I can think of. I always thought it was gross, because they were already shaking everyone’s hands.
Maybe they do it to show they like children. I have two friends (married couple) who don’t like kids and complain about kids the second they are within 50 feet. It is such a turn off to me that she dislikes children so much. I tell her, don’t say you don’t like children to strangers.
Or, they are the adult who enjoys interacting with children. My sister and I both are going to gravitate towards the children in the room when other adults are ignoring them. I would not be touching them though, and unlikely to play a sport with them. I would be interested in what they have to say or playing with them to keep them entertained. By playing I mean coloring, cards, make a tent, pretend tea service, whatever they like.