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“You’re Joking Right?! Are You Stupid?”: Woman Takes DNA Test After Mother Forbade It Throughout Her Entire Childhood
Young woman in a gray sweater looking troubled, reflecting the tension around DNA test and family conflict issues.
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“You’re Joking Right?! Are You Stupid?”: Woman Takes DNA Test After Mother Forbade It Throughout Her Entire Childhood

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Children should be able to trust their parents more than anyone else in the world. Your mom and dad are always supposed to be there for you, whether you’re having the best or worst day of your life. 

But the older one woman gets, the more she becomes suspicious of the stories she’s been told by her mother. That’s why she’s finally decided that it’s time to get a DNA test done, against her mom’s wishes. Below, you’ll find the full story that the woman shared on Reddit while seeking advice, as well as some of the responses concerned readers left her. 

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    This woman has always suspected that her parents have been keeping secrets about her

    Image credits: Garakta-Studio/Envato (not the actual photo)

    So she finally decided that it’s time to take a DNA test

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    Image credits: msvyatkovska/Envato (not the actual photo)

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    The author later revealed some more background information

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    Image credits: Image-Source/Envato (not the actual photo)

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    Finally, she updated readers on her plans

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    Image credits: cigweb_01

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    It’s perfectly natural to be curious about your family and where you came from

    It’s easy to forget this as an adult, but children know almost nothing about the world until they’ve been taught. We aren’t born knowing how to walk, talk, or read, and whatever we are told is taken to be true. For example, if you’re told that the man and woman taking care of you are your parents, you’re not going to question that as an innocent, trusting child.

    But if you begin to notice that things aren’t adding up as you get older, you might want to get a DNA test done. According to The Guardian, over 40 million people around the globe have done DNA tests through companies like 23andMe, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and more. Often, people seek out these tests to find their biological parents, siblings that they weren’t aware of, or new relatives.

    Image credits: Freepik (not the actual photo)

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    It’s perfectly natural for humans to be curious about where they came from, especially if their family doesn’t keep detailed records. Researchers in the UK found that 66% of adopted women made efforts to find their birth parents, while 34% of adopted men have done the same.  

    UConn Health explains that people often search for their birth relatives to learn more about their medical history, to understand why they were adopted, to find out about family traits and/or personalities, and to learn about their family history in general. So if you’re suspicious that your “parents” might not actually be related to you, it’s understandable to seek out a DNA test.

    Setting boundaries with toxic parents is necessary

    While it’s certainly not common, paternal discrepancy does occur from time to time. This is when a father raises a kid that he is led to believe is his biological child, but in reality, the two share no blood relation. This is estimated to occur in about 1% of families, but it tends to happen with younger parents, unmarried couples, parents of a lower socioeconomic status, or in certain isolated cultural groups.

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    In this particular situation, however, many readers pointed out that the mother is clearly keeping some secrets from her daughter. And regardless of the lies she’s been telling, she’s treated her daughter poorly for years, which is incredibly unfair.

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    Image credits: Freepik (not the actual photo)

    When it comes to dealing with a toxic parent, Headspace recommends first deciding on the role you want to have in the relationship. Then, it’s important to set and enforce boundaries that you feel comfortable with. You might even have to take some time away from the parent altogether to process how they’ve treated you and decide how to move forward.

    Headspace notes that family drama is inevitable, but it’s not your responsibility to fix your parents’ issues. If spending time with them only damages your mental health, it might not be worth it to maintain that relationship.

    If you can’t trust or rely on your relatives, make sure that you have a support system outside of your family that you can lean on. And don’t be afraid to be honest about how you feel, even if it’s difficult or painful. You deserve to live your truth, with or without your toxic parents around.

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    Later, the author responded to several readers and shared more details about her situation

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    Many readers assured the woman that she had every right to get a DNA test done

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    Some even shared similar stories of their own, as well as messages of support for the author

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    Poll Question

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    Adelaide May Ross

    Adelaide May Ross

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Howdy, I'm Adelaide! I'm originally from Texas, but after graduating from university with an acting degree, I relocated to sunny Los Angeles for a while. I then got a serious bite from the travel bug and found myself moving to Sweden and England before settling in Lithuania about three years ago. I'm passionate about animal welfare, sustainability and eating delicious food. But as you can see, I cover a wide range of topics including drama, internet trends and hilarious memes. I can easily be won over with a Seinfeld reference, vegan pastry or glass of fresh cold brew. And during my free time, I can usually be seen strolling through a park, playing tennis or baking something tasty.

    Read less »
    Adelaide May Ross

    Adelaide May Ross

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Howdy, I'm Adelaide! I'm originally from Texas, but after graduating from university with an acting degree, I relocated to sunny Los Angeles for a while. I then got a serious bite from the travel bug and found myself moving to Sweden and England before settling in Lithuania about three years ago. I'm passionate about animal welfare, sustainability and eating delicious food. But as you can see, I cover a wide range of topics including drama, internet trends and hilarious memes. I can easily be won over with a Seinfeld reference, vegan pastry or glass of fresh cold brew. And during my free time, I can usually be seen strolling through a park, playing tennis or baking something tasty.

    What do you think ?
    Mike F
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This entire scenario is weird.

    Trillian
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But very current. Test results expected for February. I hope BP does an update.

    Load More Replies...
    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why is she still in contact with someone who @bused the heck out of her???

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As someone who still lives with their ábusive parent.. I can answer. It's complex. It depends. For me, my dad had an accident when I was 18, and I was forced to stay living at home to help be his caregiver. He died in 2021, so basically I was in my late 30s with no family of my own, no friends, no finished education, no career. I have worked for the family business all my life. There was a lot of pressure and control even once my mom stopped being physically ábusive. Right now I am not financially able to live on my own. For others, there may be a sense of obligation - they may have been ábusive parents, but they are the only ones you had, and sometimes that is difficult to let go of, because humans often prefer what is familiar over what is actually good for them (in this case going NC.) I understand how confusing it can be; who would want to be around or talk to someone who ábused them for years/decades? But sometimes it's not easy to step away.

    Load More Replies...
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's her life. She deserves to know, esp. what secrets her mom is keeping. I agree; could be an affair child. :(

    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A 19 year old can get a copy of their records simply by contacting the state (or town, depending on local custom) they were born in and paying the fee for a a notarized copy. In the US you will need to provide a birth certificate for a name change, and to update your Social Security card So get DNA tested or not but make sure you're the keeper of your own documents as an adult.

    Kate Johnson
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Obviously mom cheated and she's an affair baby.

    Tabitha
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No one has mentioned the possibility that the mother was r***d, so resents raising her rapist’s baby. Then again, considering the fact that OP isn’t in their fifties or sixties, and the mother mentions almost having an abortion, if the pregnancy was the result of r**e, then she would have gone through with it. So that leaves the secret of OP’s father. Sounds like the mother cheated and either the father who raised them doesn’t know, or knows and is indifferent about it. But it does bother their mother —-a lot. Since she a****d OP while they were growing up, and isn’t much better now that they’re grown, I would be very interested to hear the results of their DNA test, compared to their sibling’s results. If they’re 100% related, then there’s a very different reason for the mother’s a***e. Either way, if I was OP, I would’ve gone NC with my mother long ago just for the a***e alone, regardless of the reason for it. Because there is NO reason for anyone to a***e their children, whether they’re their biological kids or adopted.

    Load More Replies...
    KatSaidThat
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are an affair child - reconcile yourself with that fact now. I think you already know that though based on your mother's reaction and a*****e behaviour.

    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So you don't need your birth certificate to get married - if you have IDs that required a birth certificate to obtain. Government IDs require either a birth certificate or a passport in the six US states and three other countries I've lived in. So it's already suspicious. How do you set up your adult life without a birth certificate? A 19 yo would have just gone through this How did you not read it at the time? Also do people really not keep digital copies of all their vital documents? What if something gets lost or stolen? Not the only weird thing about the post but the most irksome

    ॐBoyGanesh
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also, to change once’s name one must go to social security to get a new card issued. A birth certificate is required for several establishing events of one becoming an adult.

    Load More Replies...
    Rebecca McManus
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does anyone else think it's so badly written and confusing that it might not be real?

    Jean Jacket
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    w*f what did the results say!? Where's the end of the story??

    UnclePanda
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Get a "Who's my daddy?" t-shirt for your next visit.

    spacer
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i really wanted to know what an ipod phone was and op never answered that one time someone asked. day ruined :'(

    G A
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This sounds fake as fvck. Either that or she's the dimmest bulb in the hardware shop.

    ॐBoyGanesh
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited)

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Ya, this person either has a very limited education coupled with some serious learning & cognitive issues (they’re literally dumb as rocks given how they’ve worded their queries and having the queries to begin with) or this is made up. I know not everyone had the same access to education, but this seems to be written at a 4th grade level and completely made up. The “my mean abüser mustn’t be betrayed” mentality is plain silly. The “I’ve a different last name than my family, but that barely sounds alarms” is just ridiculous.

    Load More Replies...
    Crystalwitch60
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Ok this is well strange , firstly mother hit her a lot , but no one mentions that in comments 🤔it’s not making any sense what so ever , I can’t even sense her feelings which I can every time it’s real , ,I’m not convinced here , oh n w*f is an iPod phone ? also doing a dna test without mum n dad's dna is POINTLESS a waste of money ,totally 🤷‍♀️yea for once I do not belive a word of this one !

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP can have her brother take a DNA test and compare results with his. If they are biological siblings or half-siblings or not biological siblings at all, that will become evident.

    Load More Replies...
    Riaan van der Walt
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    What is really weird is the people that votes on the poll other than the obvious answer. Either you can't understand english or you are one of those. You know what I mean.

    Emilu
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They may have misclicked. It happens.

    Load More Replies...
    Mike F
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This entire scenario is weird.

    Trillian
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But very current. Test results expected for February. I hope BP does an update.

    Load More Replies...
    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why is she still in contact with someone who @bused the heck out of her???

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As someone who still lives with their ábusive parent.. I can answer. It's complex. It depends. For me, my dad had an accident when I was 18, and I was forced to stay living at home to help be his caregiver. He died in 2021, so basically I was in my late 30s with no family of my own, no friends, no finished education, no career. I have worked for the family business all my life. There was a lot of pressure and control even once my mom stopped being physically ábusive. Right now I am not financially able to live on my own. For others, there may be a sense of obligation - they may have been ábusive parents, but they are the only ones you had, and sometimes that is difficult to let go of, because humans often prefer what is familiar over what is actually good for them (in this case going NC.) I understand how confusing it can be; who would want to be around or talk to someone who ábused them for years/decades? But sometimes it's not easy to step away.

    Load More Replies...
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's her life. She deserves to know, esp. what secrets her mom is keeping. I agree; could be an affair child. :(

    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A 19 year old can get a copy of their records simply by contacting the state (or town, depending on local custom) they were born in and paying the fee for a a notarized copy. In the US you will need to provide a birth certificate for a name change, and to update your Social Security card So get DNA tested or not but make sure you're the keeper of your own documents as an adult.

    Kate Johnson
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Obviously mom cheated and she's an affair baby.

    Tabitha
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No one has mentioned the possibility that the mother was r***d, so resents raising her rapist’s baby. Then again, considering the fact that OP isn’t in their fifties or sixties, and the mother mentions almost having an abortion, if the pregnancy was the result of r**e, then she would have gone through with it. So that leaves the secret of OP’s father. Sounds like the mother cheated and either the father who raised them doesn’t know, or knows and is indifferent about it. But it does bother their mother —-a lot. Since she a****d OP while they were growing up, and isn’t much better now that they’re grown, I would be very interested to hear the results of their DNA test, compared to their sibling’s results. If they’re 100% related, then there’s a very different reason for the mother’s a***e. Either way, if I was OP, I would’ve gone NC with my mother long ago just for the a***e alone, regardless of the reason for it. Because there is NO reason for anyone to a***e their children, whether they’re their biological kids or adopted.

    Load More Replies...
    KatSaidThat
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You are an affair child - reconcile yourself with that fact now. I think you already know that though based on your mother's reaction and a*****e behaviour.

    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So you don't need your birth certificate to get married - if you have IDs that required a birth certificate to obtain. Government IDs require either a birth certificate or a passport in the six US states and three other countries I've lived in. So it's already suspicious. How do you set up your adult life without a birth certificate? A 19 yo would have just gone through this How did you not read it at the time? Also do people really not keep digital copies of all their vital documents? What if something gets lost or stolen? Not the only weird thing about the post but the most irksome

    ॐBoyGanesh
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also, to change once’s name one must go to social security to get a new card issued. A birth certificate is required for several establishing events of one becoming an adult.

    Load More Replies...
    Rebecca McManus
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does anyone else think it's so badly written and confusing that it might not be real?

    Jean Jacket
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    w*f what did the results say!? Where's the end of the story??

    UnclePanda
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Get a "Who's my daddy?" t-shirt for your next visit.

    spacer
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i really wanted to know what an ipod phone was and op never answered that one time someone asked. day ruined :'(

    G A
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This sounds fake as fvck. Either that or she's the dimmest bulb in the hardware shop.

    ॐBoyGanesh
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited)

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Ya, this person either has a very limited education coupled with some serious learning & cognitive issues (they’re literally dumb as rocks given how they’ve worded their queries and having the queries to begin with) or this is made up. I know not everyone had the same access to education, but this seems to be written at a 4th grade level and completely made up. The “my mean abüser mustn’t be betrayed” mentality is plain silly. The “I’ve a different last name than my family, but that barely sounds alarms” is just ridiculous.

    Load More Replies...
    Crystalwitch60
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Ok this is well strange , firstly mother hit her a lot , but no one mentions that in comments 🤔it’s not making any sense what so ever , I can’t even sense her feelings which I can every time it’s real , ,I’m not convinced here , oh n w*f is an iPod phone ? also doing a dna test without mum n dad's dna is POINTLESS a waste of money ,totally 🤷‍♀️yea for once I do not belive a word of this one !

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP can have her brother take a DNA test and compare results with his. If they are biological siblings or half-siblings or not biological siblings at all, that will become evident.

    Load More Replies...
    Riaan van der Walt
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    What is really weird is the people that votes on the poll other than the obvious answer. Either you can't understand english or you are one of those. You know what I mean.

    Emilu
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They may have misclicked. It happens.

    Load More Replies...
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