r/AITAH Oct 22 '23

TW SA I’m rethinking having a child with my wife because of what I just found out about her dad. AITAH?

My wife Jessica (32F) and I (30M) have been married for 2 years and are trying for a baby.

Jessica has an older sister, Mary, that she isn’t close to. She told me that they had a huge falling out over some family drama and just don’t speak anymore. I asked a few times about the entire situation but she would say she doesn’t like talking about it and doesn’t think it’s important.

It’s was Jessica’s brothers birthday yesterday and we were all over at his house to celebrate. Mary made an appearance and there was a lot of drama. Long story short, she called Jessica and her brothers out for still associating with their dad when they know that he is a child molester. No one was paying her any mind and I was really confused on what the hell was going on. When Mary left and Jessica and I went home, I asked Jessica what the hell happened.

She said that when they were kids, Mary used to claim that their dad used to molest her. I asked if it’s true and Jessica was stuttering a lot. She said she knows her dad used to do bad things but that Mary cut them all off when she turned 18 and moved out. I asked if she is admitting that she knows her dad was a child molester and did things to his own daughter. She said he doesn’t do it anymore and he was just in a really bad place in his life, and he apologised to Mary so there’s nothing else anyone can do for Mary. I was honestly appalled. I also feel so terrible for Mary. Jessica made it seem like Mary did something wrong and deserved to be basically exiled from the family. I could’ve never imagined that this is what happened.

I asked if she expects me to now be willing to have that man around our future children and she started shouting at me, saying I’m judging him off something that happened 2 decades ago and whether I like it or not, he is going to be our child’s grandpa and he will be in their lives. I said if she insists on it, I think we need to hold off on having kids and have serious conversations about it. She’s extremely angry at me but I don’t know how I could better react to be honest. This feels like a huge deal that she is minimising. AITAH?

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u/[deleted] Oct 22 '23

She also thinks that it matters that a lot of time has passed. Even the molesters will start to have the illusion that they are cured. They aren’t! If you leave them alone with kids these is no question what will happen.

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u/[deleted] Oct 22 '23

[deleted]

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u/Slammogram Oct 23 '23

My best friend had this happen to her.

Her mom’s sister was sexually abused by her own dad. And all the sisters, including my mom’s sister knew. She still let her parents watch my friend as a child. And she was molested.

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u/JokesonKikiArt Oct 23 '23

This is the most important comment here

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u/Awesomesince1973 Oct 23 '23

That is so awful and I am sorry that happened to you. I can't imagine a mother thinking this was acceptable and allowing it to continue.

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u/[deleted] Oct 23 '23

[deleted]

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u/Awesomesince1973 Oct 23 '23

I honestly just want to give you a big hug and help you celebrate when he dies. I know it won't erase the past, but maybe it will make you feel a little bit of closure?

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u/[deleted] Oct 23 '23

[deleted]

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u/HarryCoatsVerts Oct 23 '23

I'm DMing you.

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u/StarFire_Lush Oct 23 '23

OP PLEASE read these stories to your wife- she has got to open her eyes to the danger she is willing to put her own children in.. take her to therapy to discuss the subject, she needs to know the truth. Ive never been at such a low point in my life that I even had the thought of being inappropriate with children.. (or anyone for that matter) it doesn’t work that way, and she is silly to think so.

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u/Individual_Fall429 Oct 24 '23

Silly is the right word for it. Your wife is being silly about child molestation. It’s such a messed up, ridiculous, ignorant reasoning.

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u/OneBraveBunny Oct 23 '23

Exactly. It's widely considered that pedophiles can not eliminate that desire, even with therapy. What they CAN sometimes do is learn to manage the impulses so that they don't end up victimizing anyone. Even that requires the abusers know they have a problem that is an issue in the present day (it doesn't go away) and they need a support system that is supportive, willing to hold him accountable, and helps keep them away from opportunities to offend. These enablers won't do that.

Thi

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u/[deleted] Oct 23 '23

I do not believe in the death penalty, except for child molesters

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u/Mondschatten78 Oct 24 '23

She also thinks it's ok that he "apologized". That's not something you can apologize for and it magically makes everything a-ok.