So, this happened at my niece’s baseball game after they won. My sister ordered pizza for everyone, and we were all mingling and eating. I was getting to know some of the people from the team, and I ended up talking to this couple and their daughter, who I didn’t know was adopted.

I asked them, “Are you guys her parents?” and they said yes. So, I followed up with, “How do two blondes make a brunette?” because the daughter had dark hair and the parents were both blonde. It was a casual, lighthearted question nothing serious. The daughter laughed and said, “These are my adoptive parents.” They went on to explain she’s actually their second cousin’s daughter, and the mom even said, “People always say we look alike.”

It didn’t feel weird at all. They didn’t seem uncomfortable. If anything, they were a little caught off guard at first, but once they understood what I was asking, they answered without hesitation, and it felt like a normal conversation. The vibe was pretty relaxed, and no one seemed offended.

However, later on, I overheard my sister and niece whispering, saying that some things are better left unsaid. They seemed to think I crossed a line by asking. I don’t think I did anything wrong, though. I was just trying to get to know people and make conversation. I don’t go to all of my niece’s games, so when I do, I try to be social and connect with everyone.

I wasn’t asking about adoption directly, just making a comment on how they looked different. And they didn’t seem to have an issue with it. They even offered more info without me prompting them.

But now I’m wondering: AITA for asking that question? It wasn’t meant to be disrespectful, and I didn’t think adoption was something that had to be treated like a sensitive or shameful topic.