Mother lies to 19-year-old son about his estranged biological father's neglect, only to have her lies exposed when the son does a DNA test and finds out his father didn't know he had a child: ‘He denied my bio father and me the chance to know each other’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Sep 8, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

Family issues tend to follow you into adulthood—even the issues caused by another's absence. The teen in this story grew up believing his biological father left him and his mother when he was born, but it turns out his mother had a lot more to hide: The kid's biological father didn't even know he existed. Now, thanks to a DNA test, the teen has uncovered his mother's lies.

Even with her child's health at stake, the mother wouldn't expose the truth to her son. He needed to know his biological father's family medical history, but his mother played a hand of cards that her son couldn't see through, despite putting her son's life at stake. The kid's aunt, luckily, thought something was suspicious and urged the teen to look further into his DNA ancestry. All the while, the teen's stepfather had no clue his wife had lied to her son, so when the teen confronted her, he ended up filing for a divorce. The kid's biological father vowed to be in his life from this point forward, so now, the teen has both of the men in his life rooting for him. Who needs a mother if she won't act like one?

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  • father and son share a moment of bonding after not seeing each other for years
    via Jonathan Castañeda For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "AITA for ruining my parents marriage by finding my bio father and exposing my mom's lies?"

    I (19m) always knew my dad wasn't my bio dad and it was never a huge deal. I knew I was loved either way. Mom always told us my bio father hadn't wanted to be a dad and walked away once he learned she was pregnant. When I was 12 I
    via Jusseeui
  • started struggling with health issues and we were repeatedly asked for family medical background. Mom swore she reached out to ask bio for any insight on his side but he refused to give it. At the time we
    via Jusseeui
  • were told it would be ideal to find out more if we could but if not we would do our best to treat me.
    via Jusseeui
  • My dad and I talked about it a lot and he comforted me when I was upset that this guy who made me hated me so much that he wouldn't even help for a medical problem. It meant added complications and always
    via Jusseeui
  • having to explain to new doctors I was referred to that I only had half my family medical history and could not get more. And really it just sucked to think he cared so little if I could be seriously ill or not.
    via Jusseeui
  • A year ago my aunt (mom's sister) told me that things might not be like they seemed and maybe it would be a good idea to search for answers myself. She said the worst that could happen is he refuses to
    via Jusseeui
  • answer or gets mad at me for making contact. I asked her what she meant about things not being what they seemed but she was tight lipped on it so I did a 23&Me. I
    via Jusseeui
  • ended up matched with a paternal aunt and from there mom's lies were exposed to me.
    via Jusseeui
  • My paternal aunt was shocked to learn about me and she told me she was 100% certain her brother had no idea either. She was a go between for us at first to help set up contacting
    via Jusseeui
  • and a face to face meeting. When we met he had medical info waiting for me and he told me was a thing I inherited from his side and he would be a donor if I ever
    via jusseeui
  • needed one. He was also apologizing the whole time for not knowing me and he swore he was never told mom was pregnant. They broke up because she cheated and he never heard from her
    via jusseeui
  • again or her sister (aunt who pushed me to search) who he got along with during his relationship with mom. The medical info helped and I told him I'd have way more questions once I processed.
    via jusseeui
  • Then I went to talk to mom. At first she said it was all lies. Then asked why I searched without saying anything and when I told her why she admitted it was true. She
    via Jusseeui
  • said she met dad after the guy she cheated on my bio father with left her and she came up with the lie so we could be a normal family. And she
    via Jusseeui
  • never told my bio about me even after I got sick because she wanted to keep things as they were.
    via Jusseeui
  • a pregnant woman at her sonogram appointment
    via Curated Lifestyle For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I was hurt but so was my dad. He was mad she denied my bio father and me the chance to know each other. But also that she lied to him the whole time they had known each other. He felt like
    via Jusseeui
  • she made him complicit in keeping me and my bio father apart. And he was super angry she was willing to make my health stuff more difficult because I didn't have the full background rather
    via Jusseeui
  • than do the right thing and expose her lies years ago for my sake.
    via Jusseeui
  • The medical info I got was actually helpful for my medical team so it was worth it in that sense. But it has ruined my relationship with mom and my parents marriage is done. Dad wants a
    via Jusseeui
  • divorce and already moved out of their house. My siblings blame me for it because they know what went down between us all. AITA?
    via Jusseeui
  • OkHuckleberry9962 NTA. Sorry about your mom. But congratulations on having potentially two really great dads.
    via OkHuckleberry9962
  • darknessinthelight8 NTA. What your mom did is awful and extremely selfish. She literally lied to everyone and denied your bio dad a relationship with you and vice versa. I hope you can talk to your siblings and I'm sure they'll understand at some point. This is NOT your fault - these are the consequences to your mom's actions.
    via darknessinthelight8
  • Jusseeui Right now my siblings are refusing to talk to me even with dad telling them it's not my fault. They say it is because if I had left it alone nobody else would know and our family would be happy. Dad's trying to stop that mindset but they're not changing their mind on this.
    via Jusseeui
  • Impossible-Fun4289 That's very selfish of them considering your health issues. It was medically important for you to reach out to him. If it was them they'd have done the same. It's easy to be all high and mighty when you aren't the one with your health at stake.
    via Impossible-Fun4289
  • Jusseeui My dad tried pointing that out but it did nothing. They said I didn't need the info to live. But that wasn't true either. We didn't know if mine was the one that could quickly turn life threatening or not. Now we know and it's literally life saving for me because we know mine is that one.
    via Jusseeui
  • JefflnVancouver NTA. Her ego was more important to her than your health. She earned these consequences.
    via JeffInVancouver

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