Curiosity can be tricky, especially when it’s about someone else’s family.

What would you do if a casual question meant to avoid future awkwardness struck a nerve?

Would you apologize and let it go?

Or would you feel justified because it was meant to be thoughtful?

In the following story, one mom finds herself in this exact situation, and now she wonders if she was wrong.

Here’s what happened.

AITA for asking a dad about his kids?

My 9yo son Caden is becoming quick friends with a new neighbor boy.

Those two have been spending like 10 hours a day together.

This boy has three other “brothers.”

The youngest is his stepbrother, and the oldest has a totally different last name than the dad, boys, or stepmom.

I’ve been in their house, and there are pictures of the dad and the three oldest boys from when they were babies.

It’s quite clear that the two middle boys are the dad’s bio kids.

The oldest does but doesn’t look like the dad, but he calls him dad.

I didn’t want to be nosy, but yesterday, I asked the dad about it because I didn’t want to say the wrong thing.

Everyone is upset and thinks she was out of line.

The dad got quite angry at me and asked what difference it made.

I apologized and said it wasn’t my business.

He was a bit rude about it.

I told my husband, and he said I was a ***** and that I should text him a more “proper” apology because this might jeopardize our son’s relationship with this boy.

I totally feel ganged up upon.

AITA?

Eek! Everyone knows what curiosity did to the cat.

Let’s check out what advice the folks over at Reddit have to offer her.

As this person points out, it was none of her business.

Great perspective!

Exactly – this person is so right.

Harsh words but very true.

She had no right to ask questions.

Unless it directly impacts her son in some sort of way, there’s no reason for her to get all up in someone else’s family life.

If you liked this post, you might want to read this story about a teacher who taught the school’s administration a lesson after they made a sick kid take a final exam.