Childfree woman demands husband get paternity test for 13-year-old nephew because he looks more like him than his sister: 'I have played a father-like role since he was a kid'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Oct 17, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

Genetics is a fascinating subject, and genes can show up strongly in the most interesting of ways. You can be minding your business and living your life as normal, then you get totally blindsided when somebody takes a photo of you and you somehow look exactly like your grandma. When did that happen? Unsurprisingly, it is also a popular topic of conversation in families—there's always that one relative who loves nothing more than reminding you that you inherited your dad's nose.

All these comparisons can sometimes lead to some controversy, but it is rarely as wild as the situation that one man faced with his wife recently. His sister and other family members often noted that his teenage nephew bore a striking resemblance to him, leading to his wife asking that he take a paternity test to prove he wasn't his father. Understandably, he didn't react well to the accusation, but he started to have second thoughts about the way he responded to it.

Advertisement
  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10417125120
    via Sebastián León Prado

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
     

  • 02
    AITAH for snapping at my wife and calling her crazy because she wants me to take a paternity test for my nephew?
    via PotentialTwos
  • 03
    Throwaway account for obvious reasons. My wife and I have been married for 10 years and together for 14. We are childfree. I also have a nephew who's currently 13, and I'm not going to lie, he looks a lot like me and has a lot of the same facial features as me. I am really proud of him and we have a close bond. I have played a father like role in his life since he was a kid. He has a deadbeat father, and my sister divorced him long ago.
    via PotentialTwos
  • 04
    A couple of my family members have commented on how my nephew looks a lot like me, and while I initially thought it was wholesome, my wife for some reason became very insecure and started getting doubts. She was questioning why I needed to play such a prominent role in my nephew's life, why my nephew had autism etc. The insinuations just became weird and made me uncomfortable.
    via PotentialTwos
  • 05
    I do agree that my sister has played some part in my wife's insecurities because of her dry humor. During family gatherings, my sister jokes a lot about how wholesome it is that her son looks like me, and that she couldn't be happier. It's obviously a joke, but I spoke to my sister and asked if she could tone it down a bit because it was making my wife a bit crazy.
    via PotentialTwos
  • 06
    However, last night, my wife asked if I could take a paternity test just for her peace of mind. That's when I finally snapped and called her crazy and that marrying her was the biggest mistake of my life. I did immediately regret saying it because I meant none of it, my wife is the love of my life. But my wife got quiet, and started crying shortly after and I had to console her. Was I the AH?
    via PotentialTwos
  • 07
    Beginning-Lemon-4607 Your wife's new homework is Punnett squares
    via Beginning-Lemon-4607
  • 08
    LetsGetsThisPartyOn ΝΤΑ Of course he has your genes FROM YOUR SISTER! Not from you! Jesus. Send her to a biology class
    via LetsGetsThisPartyOn
  • 09
    TheRipley78 No, therapy. For the love of dog, she needs her head examined.
    via TheRipley78
  • 10
    Harvard Diplomat She thinks you had a baby with your own sister? Not your brother's wife or anything but your own sister? No, that IS crazy.
    via Harvard_Diplomat
  • 11
    throwaway798319 Two full-blood siblings share about 50% of their DNA. That means the odds of OP sharing significant features with his nephew are 1 in 4 which NOT RARE
    via throwaway798319
  • 12
    HarrietsDiary Seriously, I'm a copy paste of my mom's brother. I look far more like him, and act more like him, than his actual kid does. He still not my dad WTAF.
    via HarrietsDiary
  • 13
    Suitable-Tear-6179 My eldest looks like my aunt. While I have jokingly said she used me as a surrogate, noone believes it. That would be about as crazy as thinking you had an incestuous relationship with your sister. Your sister has the same genetic pool to draw from as you did. There is no big surprise about family resemblances. NTA, but I'm not sure I could stay married to someone that distrusts me that much. To accuse you of an incestuous affair with your sister, while you were dating her....
    via Suitable-Tear-6179
  • 14
    Longwinded_Ogre It's ok to be mad when someone you love and trust accuses you of sleeping with your sister. NTA. You said some harsh stuff. She deserves some harsh stuff.
    via Longwinded_Ogre
  • 15
    CaptainBeefy79 So, your biological nephew looks like you? Any chance that could have anything to do with shared biology? My oldest looks exactly like his moms side of the family who live on the other side of the country and who hadn't been around us for several years leading up to his conception, but maybe I should have FIL/BIL tested just to be sure because his genetics definitely couldn't have come from his mother. FFS, NTA
    via CaptainBeefy79
  • 16
    0-Ahem-0 When the gene is strong, the are freaking strong. My husband's sister looks almost exactly like her cousin. Doesn't help when they actually have the same name. Every man in the family have the same physique, and Al the brothers look so alike and I was like wow the gene is strong on this one.
    via 0-Ahem-0
  • 17
    Both-Star-8003 NTA. Does your wife have mental problems? Like seriously? No your biological nephew looks like you. Thats an INSANE accusation on her part & you have every right to be offended by it. Im a little confused on your sister's jokes though? Whats the joke? Is she just meaning shes happy he doesn't look like the deadbeat?
    via Both-Star-8003
  • 18
    Strawberry-Patch1 He has a deadbeat father, and my sister divorced him long ago. During family gatherings, my sister jokes a lot about how wholesome it is that her son looks like me, and that she couldn't be happier. NTA These two comments you wrote makes me believe your sister finds comfort in having her child look like you and not her baby daddy. You didn't mention anything about there former relationship, but it's obviously not a good one. Also gotta ask, what person in your family do you loo
    via Strawberry-Patch1
  • 19
    Comprehensive Put5569 NTA - Your wife should seek therapy to figure out why such a ludicrous idea seemed plausible enough to ask you to take a paternity test. It's your nephew! You already share DNA therefore it's not crazy for the 2 of you to look alike. Seriously, she needs help.
    via ComprehensivePut5569

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

aita paternity wife relationships husband family sister reddit thread Reddit nephew
Scroll Down For The Next Article