Dear GhanaWeb: I slept with my younger daughter and I regret it

Dear GhanaWeb,

I’m a 44-year-old man and I have two beautiful young daughters, 16 and 13 years of age. For some reason, they’re too comfortable around and with me. They don’t like to hide themselves or worry about their nakedness when I’m around.

They are so curvy and they look older than their age because of their size and height. A man will forever be a man. Despite them being my daughters, whom I dearly love, I still see women in them and their presence like that makes me uncomfortable.

I’ve tried to find nice ways to ask them to dress up or cover themselves around me, the way they sit without putting their thighs together. I normally tell them it’s inappropriate, but they say I’m their dad and it’s nothing.

My kids are outspoken, confident actually, so they have an excuse for everything. They’re bright and admirable. I’m mostly with them because my wife is a traveler, but she comes home every weekend. Her job isn’t here in Accra at all.

Out of frustration, I’ve done the unthinkable. I’ve slept with my younger daughter, who’s 13. It wasn’t my intention; I’ve been holding it for a while, but last 3 days was rough.

They were walking around the house wearing just panties, leaving everything on and trying hard to be around me. I asked them to wear something, but they didn’t mind me. I lost it and because I fear my elderly daughter may report this to someone, I went ahead with the younger one.

She hasn’t told anyone, but she’s not behaving right. I know she may be in pain because she’s not been exposed to such a thing before and she’s also supposed to keep it a secret. I see fear, anger and a whole lot and I’m remorseful. I feel sorry I did it.

I want to talk to her so she can be herself again. This happened three days ago and just once, but I regret my actions. These things barely leave their memories, but I want to correct things. She’s been distant from her sister and I since this happened.

I’m scared my wife might notice something is off when she returns. What if my wife tries to talk to her and she spills everything? Everyone will be disappointed in me. I want my daughter to truly heal. What do I do now?

FG/EB

Meanwhile, watch GhanaWeb’s exposé on the 'dark side of Kayamata' and its devastating impact