"Do NOT interfere here."
DNA testing kits are a very popular choice for Christmas gifts these days, but when one woman chose to get one for her boyfriend her choice backfired spectacularly.
Taking to Reddit's Am I The A**hole forum, the unnamed woman revealed how the gift had inadvertently forced a huge family secret to be revealed.
She explained how she told her boyfriend's mum about the kit and was stunned by her reaction.
"As soon as I mentioned the DNA test, she went completely pale and started to fidget," she wrote.
"She said 'Oh boy. That makes me nervous. You might have to wait on that gift, maybe until his birthday. His dad and I have to talk.'"
Understandably, these comments freaked the woman out but she later would learn why she couldn't give him the test.
His mum soon confessed that her ex-husband wasn't actually the biological father of her two sons.
He'd been unable to have children, so they'd had to use a sperm donor to start a family, however her children were unaware of this.
The woman felt burdened, knowing this big secret before her boyfriend did and confronted his mum, saying she had to tell him the truth soon.
He's 24, they had plenty of years to find a good time."
"I don't feel right keeping this info from him," she said.
"She mentioned his birthday, which isn't until July.
"I'm thinking they should tell him before the new year, because there won't ever be a good time. He's 24, they had plenty of years to find a good time."
The woman then asked her fellow Reddit users for some advice and there was plenty.
She added: "I'm extremely stressed and he can already tell something is bothering me, and is starting to get frustrated that I won't talk about it."
One person wrote: "Thank goodness this came up before you gave him the DNA kit. You're right there will never really be a good time now, his mum has definitely left it too late."
Another commented: "Talk to the mom first and explain that she's putting you in a very unfair position that's negatively affecting your relationship."
A third thought the mum shouldn't have ever said anything to her son's girlfriend and gone away to deal with it privately with her ex.
However some people thought the girlfriend should stay out of the family's private affairs.
A different user replied: "Do not give the DNA kit now. This is not your battle to fight, passively or otherwise.
"Do NOT interfere here."
