Many people dream about starting a family with their partner for years. They can’t wait to get married, settle down, and bring a baby into the world. And for a lot of couples, becoming parents brings them much closer together.
But unfortunately, after one man became a father, he couldn’t help but wonder whether or not his “daughter” was actually his. Below, you’ll find the full story that he posted on Reddit, desperately seeking advice, as well as some of the replies invested readers left him.
Becoming a parent is sure to change a person's life
Image credits: Rupinder Korpal/Pexels (not the actual photo)
But this man couldn't shake the nagging feeling that his daughter might not actually be his
Image credits: Bekir Donmez/Pexels (not the actual photo)
Some readers encouraged the author not to panic, while others said he should definitely get the DNA test to put his mind at ease
Then, the author shared an update on his situation
Image credits: RDNE Stock project/Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: anon
The majority of Americans have been cheated on in a romantic relationship
Image credits: RDNE Stock project/Pexels (not the actual photo)
When a married couple finds out that they’re expecting, there’s typically no doubt in anyone’s mind that both spouses are the parents of the child. There’s no need for a paternity test.
But we’ve all heard stories about adults who suddenly found out who their real father was once they were in their twenties or about women who kept secrets about the paternity of their baby. So unfortunately, stories like this one are not unheard of.
According to data from the Survey Center on American Life, 57% of young women say that infidelity is very or extremely common, and 44% of young men say the same. Another study found that one in ten married individuals in the United States is still on at least one dating site.
Meanwhile, a YouGov survey found that over half of Americans have been cheated on by a romantic partner, either physically, emotionally, or both. However, the same study found that the majority of relationships can actually survive cheating.
The situation does become a bit more complicated when there is a child involved, though. It’s estimated that historically in Europe, about 1% of all children born were the result of an affair. But the knowledge of this child can be the most devastating for an unsuspecting spouse.
Apparently, between 20% and 40% of divorces are linked to infidelity, and only 44% of women who cheated on their spouses are still married. It can be difficult enough to accept that your spouse has been unfaithful, but when there’s a child in the picture, they can be a constant reminder of marriage vows being broken.
Nearly one-third of men who feel the need to ask for a paternity test find out that they're not the father
Image credits: Radhika Studio/Pexels (not the actual photo)
Clinical psychologist Dr. Michael Wetter, PsyD, told Celebrity Parents Magazine that there is no exact timeframe when it comes to how long it will take people to accept news like this.
“It depends on how secure the communication and trust are,” Dr. Wetter explains. “It’s going to be painful and a little more raw initially, but if we talk about when it first occurs, it doesn’t have to take 10 years. Within six months to a year, something could be achievable, but it depends on the dynamics.”
He notes that it’s a different scenario, however, when the person finds out years later that their partner had a child with someone else. In that case, the person will go through a process of loss and grieving, along with a feeling of betrayal. “It’s a lot,” Dr. Wetter says.
In this particular story, the father was extremely torn about whether or not to ask for a paternity test. But according to DNA Diagnostics Center, nearly one-third of men who ask for a paternity test find out that they are not actually the father.
Whether it was intuition telling them that something was wrong or simply bad luck, it’s important for men to be prepared for some difficult news if they feel the need to ask for a DNA test.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. How would you have handled things if you were in the author’s shoes? Feel free to weigh in, and then you can find another Bored Panda article discussing similar family drama right here.
However, some readers weren't satisfied with the ending
