Asked my daughter if she wanted to get on birth control today. It was real damn awkward.

February 07, 2026

AITA for staying calm after discovering my teen daughter's texts about condoms?

A single dad of 17-year-old triplets found a surprising text from his daughter’s boyfriend about condoms. Instead of reacting with anger, he chose a calm conversation—yet the moment still left him emotional.

✍︎

As a single dad of 17-year-old triplets, I was caught off guard when I found a text from my daughter's boyfriend asking about condoms. Instead of reacting harshly, I chose to stay calm and talk openly, which revealed how mature my daughter already is about her choices.

My daughter, one of three 17-year-old triplets, has been dating her boyfriend for six months. I keep their locations on Life360, and one day I noticed she was parked somewhere for a while. When I asked, she said they just stopped to eat and talk. Later, I found her phone left inside and saw a text from her boyfriend asking about buying more condoms.

"I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the text asking about condoms."

Despite being surprised, I held back any anger when I went outside. She was fixing an old bench that belonged to my grandfather, waving a screwdriver and joking about an electric one for Christmas. I gave her the phone back and left quietly.

After a few minutes, I thanked her for the help and told her I saw the text. I reassured her she wasn’t in trouble and asked if she felt pressured to do anything, but she shook her head no. Later, I had a conversation about birth control options given where we live, and she calmly told me she already has an IUD.

"She thanked me for being open, and I had to quietly go cry afterwards."

That moment really hit me—it’s hard to see the kids growing up and handling complex things on their own. Now I prepare to have similar talks with my sons and talk to their mom, hoping we can keep trust instead of letting fear or anger take over.

🏠 The Aftermath

After the discovery and conversation, the relationship between me and my daughter remains open and honest. She’s comfortable sharing with me, which is a relief.

I haven’t lectured her harshly or made a scene, which helped maintain trust. Instead, I’m now preparing for similar conversations with my boys and discussing the situation with their mom to ensure we’re aligned.

Emotionally, it was a tough moment for me as a parent realizing how quickly time flies and how my children are making adult decisions.