Redditor Asks If He's An A**hole For Telling His Nephew That His Cousin Is Actually His Half-Sibling

"Your wife and son are a reminder of a very painful event."

Stephanie

• Published in Interesting
• August 16, 2023

Family politics can be difficult to navigate at the best of times, but when there is betrayal involved, it's a whole other ball game. Reddit user u/Other_Operation_5157 recently shared a story in the AITA (Am I The A**hole?) subreddit about some drama in his own family.

The OP explained that, some time ago, his wife and his sister's late husband had an affair, and his wife became pregnant as a result. Two days after the affair came out, OP's BIL sadly passed away.

Of course, with his BIL gone, that left OP's wife to carry the blame for the affair alone. During lockdown, the OP and his wife decided to give their marriage another chance for their daughter's sake.

The OP says that after a lot of couples therapy, they are in a much better space now than they ever were. When the Redditor's wife gave birth to a baby boy, the OP accepted the baby as his own son.

While most of the family is civil towards the OP's wife, his sister has never been able to forgive her. She all but disowned the OP when he told her he would not be divorcing his wife.

The OP says his family meets up for lunch every weekend, and recently, there has been some tension. When the OP and his wife announced their pregnancy, his sister commented, "Wonder which one of our husbands is the father."

The OP's wife was humiliated by the comment and excused herself to the bathroom. The Redditor told his sister it was time she let go of the resentment towards his wife and that her malice towards her was keeping her children from having a relationship with their half-brother.

When the OP's 15-year-old nephew heard that, he asked what he meant by that. The OP told him that his son is actually his half-brother, as opposed to his cousin.

OP's nephew asked his mother if that were true, and she told him it was. She said it was OP's wife who ruined her marriage and even blamed her for her husband's death.

After a heated argument played out, the OP's father told him to leave. Not long after, the Redditor's nephew texted him, telling him to leave his family alone and that he would never accept OP's son as his brother.

Now the OP is wondering if he's the a**hole here. Keep scrolling to see how people reacted.

The OP asked if he's an a**hole for telling his nephew about his half-sibling.

The OP explained that, some time ago, his wife and his sister's late husband had an affair, and his wife became pregnant as a result.

Two days after the affair came out, OP's BIL sadly passed away.

During lockdown, the OP and his wife decided to give their marriage another chance for their daughter's sake.

While most of the family is civil towards the OP's wife, his sister has never been able to forgive her.

She will often put the OP's wife down.

When the OP and his wife announced their pregnancy, his sister commented, "Wonder which one of our husbands is the father."

The OP's wife was humiliated by the comment and excused herself to the bathroom.

When the OP's 15-year-old nephew heard that, he asked what he meant by that, and the OP told him that his son is actually his half-brother, as opposed to his cousin.

After a heated argument played out, the OP's father told him to leave.

Not long after, the Redditor's nephew texted him, telling him to leave his family alone and that he would never accept OP's son as his brother.

Here's how people reacted.

"I don't understand dragging a child into the mess."

YTA.

"Your wife and son are a reminder of a very painful event."

"You caused a scene that harmed the children involved."

Yikes!

"You should have done better to control your emotions."

"It's a sad situation."

"Major YTA."

"You spineless jellyfish!"

What's your take on this situation? Do you think the OP was out of line for telling his nephew such a huge piece of information the way he did, or was it the right thing to do?

We would love to hear your opinions on this. You can share your thoughts with us in the comment section.

Stephanie