A father turned to Reddit’s ‘Am I the A**hole’ community, seeking advice on a dilemma he faced with his 18-year-old son, Jax, during a family cruise to the Caribbean. The issue arose when Jax, who had recently finished school and joined his parents on the trip, packed a rather revealing wardrobe choice—specifically, a Speedo-style swimsuit.
Jax, whom his father describes as brimming with confidence, chose a suit designed by AussieBum. This particular swimwear wasn’t just any Speedo; it had a highly suggestive cut, with an “enhancing pouch” and a design that became nearly transparent when wet. His father was left shocked, stating the suit left nothing to the imagination, especially in its light baby blue color. In his words, it screamed, “Hey, look at my big d***.”
Seeing the inappropriate choice for a family vacation, the dad pulled what he called the “dad card,” asking Jax to buy something more suitable. Initially, Jax resisted, as he’s used to challenging authority and often winning. However, after some back-and-forth, Jax relented and went shopping, returning with another Speedo. While the second suit was less revealing, it still didn’t meet his father’s standards, prompting the dad to insist on proper swim trunks. Despite his son’s complaints, he gave in, though not without asking to wear his original swimsuit multiple times.
The father explained on Reddit that while Jax is technically an adult and free to wear what he wants, he felt responsible for setting boundaries since he was paying for the trip and felt some things—like wearing highly revealing swimwear—were inappropriate around family. He admitted that Jax’s confidence is admirable but also overwhelming at times, joking that while Jax’s self-assurance is justified, “a bit goes a long way.”
Reddit users were largely supportive of the dad’s stance. Many agreed that the first swimsuit was too provocative for a family vacation, with one person humorously suggesting that Jax might reconsider if his dad wore the same outfit. Others said that no parent would want to be in the position of having to look at their child’s private areas, no matter their age. However, there were mixed opinions about the second Speedo, with some feeling the dad could’ve let that one slide.
In response to some who labeled him a “prude,” the father clarified that he doesn’t generally mind Speedos but felt his son was trying to push boundaries this time. He stood by his decision, believing there’s a time and place for everything, and a family vacation wasn’t the right setting for such a revealing swimsuit.