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AIBU?

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To not tell DP about stepdaughter

144 replies

gohomenow · 25/07/2026 21:09

DP is a single father to his dd(13), we have only been together a few years but have a baby together.

SD took my camera on a sleepover recently. I was unpacking her school bag today and found it so took it back and looked through the photos, which I maybe shouldn’t have done but I was not expecting anything inappropriate. There were lots of photos of her just in her underwear at her friends house ( I won’t be going into anymore detail than that)

She claims they were just messing around and weren’t to show anyone, which I believe. Her phone is regularly checked and nothing inappropriate has ever been on there. She’s begged me to please not tell her dad and I’m not sure what to do.

Obviously DP can’t look at the photos of his dd and I will delete them but the conversation would be uncomfortable for both of them. He is quite a strict and anxious parent and I can see him not understanding and overreacting ( at least what I would consider an overreaction).

Probably selfishly but my relationship with sd has been difficult and I’m thinking if I don’t tell I will gain her trust and improve our relationship but I think if my dd was older and someone decided not to tell me I would furious.

Would I be unreasonable to not tell him?

OP posts:
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SnowflakeSmasher86 · 26/07/2026 17:12

pinkyredrose · 26/07/2026 16:18

If she's in her underwear then surely it's just like a bikini? What's the worst that can happen?

But it’s not a bikini is it? The same way you might post a photo of yourself on holiday in a bikini on Facebook, but I imagine you don’t post pics of yourself in your bra and pants

godmum56 · 26/07/2026 17:11

pinkyredrose · 26/07/2026 17:01

Why the rolly eyes?

asking what is the worst that can happen.

pinkyredrose · 26/07/2026 17:01

godmum56 · 26/07/2026 16:35

🙄

Why the rolly eyes?

godmum56 · 26/07/2026 16:35

pinkyredrose · 26/07/2026 16:18

If she's in her underwear then surely it's just like a bikini? What's the worst that can happen?

🙄

pinkyredrose · 26/07/2026 16:18

SnowflakeSmasher86 · 26/07/2026 15:52

Yes. You’re missing basic safeguarding training. Anyone who has worked with kids knows that this is not ok and that the very worst thing you can do is keep a secret in a situation like this.

Edited

If she's in her underwear then surely it's just like a bikini? What's the worst that can happen?

SnowflakeSmasher86 · 26/07/2026 15:52

pinkyredrose · 26/07/2026 11:46

Am I missing something? What's the big deal about turn taking pics that no-one else would see?

Yes. You’re missing basic safeguarding training. Anyone who has worked with kids knows that this is not ok and that the very worst thing you can do is keep a secret in a situation like this.

godmum56 · 26/07/2026 14:38

people are assuming that no one else would see them. BIG assumption.

dh280125 · 26/07/2026 14:17

Slugtamer · 25/07/2026 21:34

Of course you can’t keep it a secret and don’t delete the pictures either. This is extremely concerning.

Extremely? Ok I admit I was a bit of a precocious teen but so were my friends. There is nothing surprising about this and I’d say it’s a fairly natural part of growing up. I’d keep her confidence personally.

YourFairCyanReader · 26/07/2026 12:54

godmum56 · 26/07/2026 12:37

She is not the OP's daughter. While they seem to have a good relationship, she doesn't have legal parental responsibility. Its not something that can be guaranteed to be kept from her father who is her legal parent. Imagine the conversation
him "why did you not tell me"
OP because I don't like your parenting style with her"

yup, that's really going to help.

No it would be "she didn't want me to"

Only OP can judge if she's really at risk or it's just a daft teen thing. I am just saying that part of keeping a child safe is them knowing they have someone they can talk to in confidence. Letting a child know that you won't respect their wishes as to what happens to their information, is itself introducing a risk.
I wouldn't want to lose that confidence unless it was absolutely necessary, and from what I've read In this case it might not be.

godmum56 · 26/07/2026 12:37

YourFairCyanReader · 26/07/2026 12:29

I know. If DSD's mum was around I'd be totally agreeing with you, I just think she needs an adult female she can trust. She's probably mortified bless her and if her dad is the type to overreact it's just unnecessary IMO

She is not the OP's daughter. While they seem to have a good relationship, she doesn't have legal parental responsibility. Its not something that can be guaranteed to be kept from her father who is her legal parent. Imagine the conversation
him "why did you not tell me"
OP because I don't like your parenting style with her"

yup, that's really going to help.

grumpygrape · 26/07/2026 12:36

pinkyredrose · 26/07/2026 11:46

Am I missing something? What's the big deal about turn taking pics that no-one else would see?

You think 13 year old girls have never lied ? Particularly if they are being groomed.

Yes, I know that's worst case scenario but should be considered and the child's online and stranger danger education needs updating at least.

grumpygrape · 26/07/2026 12:30

Tryagain26 · 26/07/2026 10:15

The friend is a girl OP called her she and they have been friends since reception.

Thanks, my apologies, I missed that bit. but the rest of my post still stands.

I see OP has updated and is going to speak to her partner but I do hope they speak to a trained Safeguarding person.

YourFairCyanReader · 26/07/2026 12:29

godmum56 · 26/07/2026 12:18

well that was your mum's choice...in this case though different because this is not the biological or adoptive parent.

I know. If DSD's mum was around I'd be totally agreeing with you, I just think she needs an adult female she can trust. She's probably mortified bless her and if her dad is the type to overreact it's just unnecessary IMO

godmum56 · 26/07/2026 12:18

YourFairCyanReader · 26/07/2026 11:59

There have been times my daughters have told me things and not wanted their dad to know, I've respected that. The most important thing IMO is that they know as teens and young adults, they can tell me something and still be in control of that information. Going against their wishes is a surefire way to ensure they don't trust you next time.

I also remember my mum discovering something when I was 13 or 14, and her agreeing not to tell my dad, and me feeling extremely grateful.

well that was your mum's choice...in this case though different because this is not the biological or adoptive parent.

godmum56 · 26/07/2026 12:15

pinkyredrose · 26/07/2026 11:46

Am I missing something? What's the big deal about turn taking pics that no-one else would see?

how do you know no one else would see them? I mean yup now they have been found but if they hadn't been found? Digi cams can connect to wifi now and sd cards easily shared.

MimiGC · 26/07/2026 12:01

i would want to know if she was the only one posing in underwear or if there were photos of the friend doing the same? If the friend also did it, where are those photos? (There may have been two cameras involved, in which case that is important information.) If the friend didn’t also pose, then why was it only your SD? Was she persuaded to do it or did she volunteer? Did she ask to borrow your camera? Why didn’t she delete the photos, as she must have known you’d find them? There’s lots to unravel.

YourFairCyanReader · 26/07/2026 11:59

godmum56 · 26/07/2026 11:09

and in a normal family, its not the mum role to hide things from the dad. As I have already said, I am a bit surprised that the OP had a baby with a man whose parenting style she SO disapproves of that she is considering keeping a secret from him

There have been times my daughters have told me things and not wanted their dad to know, I've respected that. The most important thing IMO is that they know as teens and young adults, they can tell me something and still be in control of that information. Going against their wishes is a surefire way to ensure they don't trust you next time.

I also remember my mum discovering something when I was 13 or 14, and her agreeing not to tell my dad, and me feeling extremely grateful.

ponyprincess · 26/07/2026 11:59

KrazyKatty · 26/07/2026 08:53

Since when do teens use digital cameras when they have phones? 🤔😉

I am not sure if this is the case here, but with my teens there is a trend to have a digital camera at a party, group settings etc so everyone can pick it up and take photos- then usually shared. It's not hard to shift photos with a wired or Bluetooth connection. The idea is a bit like disposable cameras at a wedding table.

Agree, the kinds of photos the OP found need discussion with Dad and daughter

Edited typo

HarrietSchulenberg · 26/07/2026 11:53

Her dad needs to know as he is her parent.
The parent who hosted the sleepover needs to know as it happened at their house and they will need to check their own child's phone and/or camera.
I would be more concerned if the pictures were taken on an internet enabled device such as a phone or ipad but at least the pictures seem to be contained on your camera so there's less risk of them being shared BUT there is a possibility of there being more on the friend's devices AND pics could still have been taken from your camera.
Check for any hidden folders on your DSD's phone and check the recycle bin as kids are superb at hiding images they don't want to be found.
You cannot keep this a secret.
If you have any reason to think the images might have been shared, the NSPCC's Report Remove tool is very good at locating and removing them.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-reporting/report-remove/
Also have a look at the CEOP website for advice and information:
https://www.ceopeducation.co.uk/
I work in children's safeguarding.

pinkyredrose · 26/07/2026 11:46

Am I missing something? What's the big deal about turn taking pics that no-one else would see?

TY78910 · 26/07/2026 11:41

SummerDive · 26/07/2026 11:33

@TY78910 because the reason fir taking those photos will have a huge impact on how I’d approach things with the sd.
Youre not going to say and do the same thing if the sd is naively taking photos with a female friend, just for fun. Which a lot of teenage girls wouldn’t see a problem with.
vs photos taken because they’ve been groomed

In the first case, the sd needs a big dose of education around the dangers of taking those photos, what they might mean etc… even though the INTENT might have been similar to hols photos.
In the second case, you might talk about Police involvement, protecting the sd, decisions around phone use etc…. A very different kettle of fish.

In this case though the question is very much should I keep this from DP. And the answer is no, no matter if these were naively taken in bikinis or plain underwear.

maudelovesharold · 26/07/2026 11:34

Viviennemary · 25/07/2026 21:39

Of course he needs to know. Why is her phone checked regularly? Is she not to be trusted

I think it’s considered essential nowadays to check your young teen dc’s phone regularly!

SummerDive · 26/07/2026 11:33

@TY78910 because the reason fir taking those photos will have a huge impact on how I’d approach things with the sd.
Youre not going to say and do the same thing if the sd is naively taking photos with a female friend, just for fun. Which a lot of teenage girls wouldn’t see a problem with.
vs photos taken because they’ve been groomed

In the first case, the sd needs a big dose of education around the dangers of taking those photos, what they might mean etc… even though the INTENT might have been similar to hols photos.
In the second case, you might talk about Police involvement, protecting the sd, decisions around phone use etc…. A very different kettle of fish.

Inthewoody · 26/07/2026 11:30

My concern would immediately be if they have uploaded the photos to a site and who has access to them. You need to tell dp. Also was she persuaded into this by a friend. It’s a safeguarding issue op.

TY78910 · 26/07/2026 11:27

SummerDive · 26/07/2026 11:04

Genuine question here

Would it be considered pronography is they were in a bikini instead?

Im assuming the sd is wearing quite plain underwear, not that disimilar to the coverage and look of a bikini. Not a thong and lacy bra.

Why does it matter? Even bikini snaps at 13 would be questioned. Whats the reason behind wanting to take those pictures? We’re not talking about holiday snaps here.

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