Daughter calls mom a "Dinosaur" after she berates her son, a single dad, for having menstrual products at the ready for his teenage daughters: 'Periods are a private matter and his girls shouldn't be going to him'

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Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Aug 26, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

Most men – unless they grew up with sisters – don't have a whole lot of knowledge on periods and women's health until they get into a serious relationship. It can take a while for them to get accustomed to the cycles marked by hormonal ups and downs, but most guys get the hang of it eventually. My own fiance knows when my shark week is coming up; not only has he memorized the general dates that I get my period, but he claims that he can just tell because of how cranky I get. He also knows to treat me extra nice the first few days, will buy me supplies if he sees that I'm running low, and makes sure that the pantry is stocked up with my favorite snacks.

So, if a man in a relationship can become adept at dealing with "women's problems," you can imagine that a single father of two teenage girls would be a champion of handling hormones and period preparedness. When this girl dad is approached by one of her daughters after Aunt Flo strikes during a family trip to the zoo, he pulls out one of the emergency pads stashed in his backpack. His own mother, the girls' literal grandmother, starts criticizing him for this, accusing him of being too involved in their periods, prompting our narrator, the dad's sister, to call her own mother a "dinosaur" for her backwards opinion. Now she's wondering who was really out of line. 

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  • 01

    AITA for calling my mom a dinosaur after she called my older brother disgusting because he keeps pads on him

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  • 02
    Recently my family took a trip to the zoo. It was the whole family, my mom, my younger sister, my older brother and his two teenage daughters and
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  • 03
    my younger brother and his three small children. The issue started when when my oldest niece whispered something to her sister who shook her head then
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  • 04
    approached my sister and I to ask if we had a pad unfortunately neither of us did. My older brother pulled a pad out of his back pack and handed it to her. No one thought anything of it
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  • 05
    except my mom who asked why my brother would have a pad in HIS backpack my brother shrugged it off explaining he always puts pads in his back pack just in case as he is a
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  • 06
    single father to two teenage girls. My mom said that was disgusting and that periods are a private matter and that his girls should not be going to him. My mom even went as far as
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  • 07
    saying my brother is sick for being this interested in his daughters periods. Both of my brothers decided to split from the group and enjoy the
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  • 08
    zoo without my mom. I told my mom she was the one being disgusting and if she did not stop acting like an out of touch dinosaur she would lose her grandchildren. I then joined my brothers and nieces and nephews.
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  • 09
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  • 10
    My sister called me later to yell at me because my mom was crying so hard she could not breathe and they had to leave the zoo. She said mom was
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  • 11
    just pointing out what everyone was thinking and that I was being cruel for no reason. She says my brothers and I are monsters for ganging up on my mom in a public place. So AITA?
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  • Okay, grandma. So, what's a single dad supposed to do? Phone a friend or aunt every time one of his daughters is menstruating? Seriously, what's the alternative here? He's just being a responsible parent.

  • 12
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  • 13
    PeachyFairy Dragon Single father to two teen girls and well prepared for their needs - that man should be applauded.
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  • 14
    Usual-Canary-7764 That man needs a medal. I know guys who would not even feel comfortable discussion their partner's period let alone best ready to support them like this. They stay away from the whole idea like a plague. Unfortunately there are many of them.
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  • 15
    Here is one who is caring enough to be prepared..and his preparedness got him backlash from his mother of all people? Yea mom has issues...she definitely needs to stop being a dinosaur
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  • 16
    lady-earendil It's unbelievable to me that someone could find something to criticize about that.
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  • 17
    UsualSuspect1369 I think your brother is an amazing father and your mother is wrong as she can be.
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  • 18
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  • 19
    LeahBeautyy Couldn't agree more. OP, your brother is doing exactly what a good dad should do. Your mom's reaction says more about her mindset than anything he's doing.
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  • 20
    Efficient_Garbage839 Your brother is showing love and responsibility in the simplest way...by being prepared for his daughters' real needs.... That's what makes a great father... :3
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  • 21
    Your mom, on the other hand, is stuck in harmful prejudices.... Setting that boundary wasn't cruelty, it was necessary
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  • This dad is amazing. If it takes being called a “dinosaur" for grandma to realize that her son is doing the best he can and succeeding, then so be it.

  • 22
    confusedcollstudent Mom was not pointing out what everyone was thinking cause in no way would this be my response to your brother having a pad. He sounds
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  • 23
    like a good dad. Mom can cry about it all she wants, but I'd keep distance til she apologized and started behaving like a respectful adult. NTA
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  • 24
    Gofindabear NTA. Your mom and sister need to stay in their lanes. A father being prepared is exactly what we have fathers for!
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  • 25
    LeahBeautyy Exactly, there's nothing wrong with a dad being ready for his daughters' needs. That's literally being a good parent, not something to shame
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  • 26
    porkchop1021 It's not even a father thing. Everyone should be prepared. I don't have children and I keep pads and tampons at my place in case someone comes over and needs one.
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  • 27
    Adventurous-Term 5062 NTA. Your brother is a good dad. Your mom wasn't pointing out what everyone was thinking. She was being ridiculous and should have kept her mouth shut.
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single dad family drama dads old school teenagers reddit story parenting raising teens dad family Reddit raising kids Parenting Fail parents vacation
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