Every family has secrets, and they are often hidden for a reason. Sometimes discovering a surprising revelation can change everything. Here, Redditors share some of their deepest family secrets that altered their view of their life and family. For the most part, it seems the best-kept secrets should be just that.
1. Globe-Trotting Tramp
I was raised in a traditional Christian household with devoted parents who would ensure my attendance at church three times a week. Each morning, my mom would guide us through devotion and highlight the teachings of the Bible, including concepts like relationships, marriage, obedience, and more.
At the age of 18, I came across my mom's phone and stumbled upon something quite unsettling. She had been exchanging inappropriate texts with a man who certainly wasn't my father. I confronted her, but she chose to deny everything.
When my dad eventually got wind of the situation, we learned the shocking truth. My mom wasn't simply having an affair—she had taken it to the point of hiring herself out intimately. Even more surprising, she had clients located as far as Paris and Sweden, aside from boyfriends back home in the USA. Needless to say, the image of my childhood was shattered.
2. The Truth Was In Transition
When I was two, my parents split and I don't have any memory of it. Later on, during my elementary school years, my dad came back with a new wife—my stepmother—and a strong religious belief. Consequently, and much to my mother's disappointment, I became very religious, too.
Despite their separation, they never said anything negative about each other to me. I never questioned why they broke up—single-parent families were quite common then, so it didn't seem unusual. However, in my teenage years, my relationship with my dad fell apart for a regrettable reason.
My two closest friends, who meant the world to me, came out and revealed they were into men. This was difficult for me because my religious upbringing suggested they were destined for hell. I questioned my father about this, but he was unwavering in his belief that they would indeed face eternal punishment if they didn't change.
I left the church, unable to reconcile this belief with the loving God my father had preached about. We had a massive disagreement, which led to us not speaking for over ten years.
During this time, my mom hinted at some secrets about my dad that I wasn't aware of. She revealed that she was his second wife but didn't divulge more. I thought I may have another half-sibling but never pursued it further.
Years later, right after Christmas, I received a phone call from a friend who rented from my mom. My mom had suffered a heart issue and was hospitalized. As I was hurriedly preparing for the long drive to see her, he shared some unexpected news.
Earlier that night, my stepmother had visited my mom to wish her a Merry Christmas and to announce that she and my dad were getting a divorce. The undisclosed secret that had ruined my mom's marriage, as well as my dad's first marriage, had now ended this one too.
My dad was transgender. At nearly 60, she decided that she couldn't deny her true self any longer. She began hormone therapy and planning for transitional surgery. She had already chosen a new name—with the help of her last wife—and was giving my mom an update on her life choices.
Upon my stepmother's departure, my mom suffered immediate chest pains and called an ambulance. She was diagnosed with a condition called broken heart syndrome. My mom eventually recovered and admitted everything to me from her hospital bed.
Now, my dad is living happily post-transition in Florida with a close friend and dating an older man who knows about her transition and is incredibly supportive.
3. Who’s Your Daddy?
My best mate, a 28-year-old with two similar-aged siblings, also has a younger brother who's 15. This younger sibling is technically their half-brother, but he's in the dark about it. Their mom moved out while they were all still in junior high and stayed with another man for some time. This man, however, left her as soon as she fell pregnant.
Their dad welcomed her back, and since then, he's been raising the now 15-year-old boy as his son. Naturally, the older siblings are aware of the situation—they were in school when it all happened and saw it unfold. But mom and dad have specifically requested they keep quiet about it to their younger brother. Why? Because they worry this revelation might make him question his father's love for him.
4. Take Note—Something’s Off
When I was just a little six-year-old, I returned home from school one day with my mom. We fetched the mail and scattered it across the table. Among the various letters, my eyes caught one addressed to me. It read, "I've noticed you've been feeling low recently. How about we go shopping to lift your spirits? Love, Paul".
Before I could even digest what I had just read, my mom plucked the note from my tiny hands, asserting sternly, "This one's not for you!", despite the fact that it clearly had my name on it. The bizarre event left me with deeply curious thoughts—did I have a peculiar admirer at such a young age, or was my mom was involved in something secret, while using my name as a cover?
The whole incident struck me as quite strange, and never resurfaced for dialogue in the following 17 years. As I grew older, I stumbled upon other faint traces implying that my mom had some hidden aspects to her life.
Whenever I entered her space, she would swiftly conceal her phone from view, and there were rubbers in her bag during her professional journeys—odd, considering my dad had a vasectomy back in 1990. The possibility of her sneaking around wasn't entirely implausible, but the confounding factor was why that note was addressed to me? To this day, I'm still befuddled.
freepik, master1305
5. He Sold The Farm
I had always guessed that my humble, hardworking granddad, who was a tenant farmer on my mom's side, never had the chance to own his own farm. But, I later discovered some unsettling facts.
Apparently, my uncle, his son, had a serious gambling problem and had racked up some pretty serious debts. These could have proven fatal for him, and even other family members, if my grandfather hadn't stepped in. It turns out he sold his farm to save my uncle from his dangerous situation. Unfortunately, I only learned about all of this afterward, when both had already passed.
6. A Kick In The Teeth
My dad's life story unfolded for me in an unusual sequence. The first thing that came to light was his 14-year prison stint, earning him the nickname "The Hollywood Bandit" as he had a habit of stealing from famous people. Next, I discovered that he's into men. While he hasn't publicly acknowledged it, it's a well-known secret, including to my mom.
I also learned that he's been wearing dentures ever since I can remember, thanks to the poor quality food in prison, and that he once killed a man in self-defense. Surprisingly, what he was most hesitant for me to find out was the bit about his denture.
7. Reunited
When I was about 16, my parents had a huge argument—a common occurrence, really. Throughout the dispute, my father repeatedly asked my mother, "Why don't you tell them?" Eventually, after a lot of tears, my mom shared her secret with my siblings and me.
Surprisingly, it turns out we have an elder half-brother. When my mom was just 16, she fell pregnant and made the tough decision to give her baby up for adoption. I discovered later on that everyone in our family knew about this except us, the kids. My mom refrained from intervening in his life, so I took the initiative after a few years and searched for him on MySpace.
Naturally, I was filled with apprehension, but everything worked out really well. My mom and half-brother reconnected and he has since become an integral part of our family.
8. One Night Oversight
It turns out, I'm the result of a clandestine affair, and the spark that ended two marriages. Let's hear the whole tale. Dad, who had a wife and two kids, was on the brink of a split. Mom had her own woes in Detroit, in a troubled marriage of her own.
They both happened to work at the same place and got chatty. Fate would change their lives forever on one Valentine's Day in 1988—after a few drinks, they made the decision to forego protection, and so, I was conceived. My birth led Mom to wrap up her divorce proceedings and move out.
Dad wasn't given a second chance in his marriage either. He resettled at my grandparents' farm. When I was around two, he moved in with Mom and me, and it has been our little family since then.
But there's a twist in my tale—my birth certificate doesn't have my dad's name, but my mom's ex-husband's, which led to the paternity confusion. I share a strong bond with my half-siblings who harbor no resentment towards me. It's certainly an odd feeling knowing you were an unplanned surprise, but I'm comfortable with it.
9. As Easy As Pie
My folks got hitched pretty quick. They first bumped into each other in July and were already tying the knot just a day after Christmas. At the time they met, they were each dating someone else. They had a chat about it, decided to part ways with their current partners, and took the plunge into their own relationship within a week. At least, that's my dad's version of the tale.
A few years ago I was having a chat with my mom about pecan pie, and she revealed a little twist to the story in a hush-hush tone. She confessed, "To be honest, when your dad and I started going out, I didn't cut off my other boyfriend right away. I kept seeing him for an extra two weeks just so that I could snag his mom's pecan pie recipe. Once I had it, then I gave him the heave-ho".
Taking a deep breath, she loudly proclaimed "Old family recipe" ensuring my dad, chilling in the next room with his TV show, remained none the wiser.
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10. The Pieces Finally Fell Into Place
Growing up, I lived with my biological mom and my dad visited us regularly, making lengthy stays before heading home. My mom described him as her boyfriend, and although they never tied the knot, I didn't think much of it.
I crossed paths with my dad's wife, and it was clear from the offset that we just couldn't gel. I tried to get along to keep the peace, fearing my dad's wrath. When I was nine, however, my biological mom left my elder sister and me in a motel. Soon, our dad swooped in to rescue us, having us over for the weekend before eventually winning custody.
Throughout my childhood, I recollect my dad casually speaking about his marriage tenure to his wife, but I never pieced it all together. I have two older siblings from my dad and stepmom's union, who were well into their thirties and had their own families by the time I turned 20.
In my junior year of high school, I felt compelled to map out my family tree, given the puzzling anaomalies surrounding it. Upon reflection, I figured out that I was born from an affair my dad had with my mom while he was still wedded to my stepmom. This eureka moment shed light on why my stepmom's family harbored such animosity towards me.
11. Peeping Papi
Evidently, my great-grandfather displayed troubling behavior. He would secretly watch his daughters, carving out tunnels in the walls to observe them in their private moments. After he died, his house was deemed too dangerous to live in due to structural deficiencies. He had punctured vital beams with numerous spy holes, which his daughters would stuff with pieces of cloth or whatever they could find, once they had uncovered one. He, however, would simply create new openings in the dead of night.
It's no surprise that my grandmother—a victim of her father's behavior—ended up married to a man who was much the same. My aunts experienced a terrifying adolescence, while my mother, being the oldest, managed to escape after a couple of years.
This disturbing family history is something rarely spoken about. One evening, after having a few drinks, my mother finally shared the story with me.
Freepik, freepik
12. A Lascivious Lush?
I never had the chance to meet my paternal grandfather. Stories about him always made him sound like the local clown who simply vanished one day. When I was 23 and managing a bar, the beverage company informed me about their new salesperson heading my way. His arrival left me in shock—it was like peering at my own reflection.
Upon conversing, I discovered astonishing news. His grandfather and my grandfather were the same person. We later uncovered shocking secrets about him. He certainly wasn't a local clown; rather, he secretly maintained five families simultaneously, all settled in different states.
13. Damaging Denial
My cousin has Asperger's syndrome, that's pretty clear to the folks in our immediate family even though it's a hard truth to swallow. It's clear as day and honestly, it's throwing his life into a tailspin. He's in his mid-20s, has left college half-way through, used to live in a government-aided apartment—before being kicked out—and finally settled in a trailer park. His roommate? A woman quite a bit older than him, like 15 years older, and her young daughter.
The typical traits of Asperger's are obvious in him. My folks, who work as psychologists, noticed that too. I honestly believe that he'd have a much smoother life if he got some medical help. I've seen that many individuals with Asperger's can integrate themselves into society norm. A while back, my dad tried nudging this knowledge towards my aunt's side, but she only reacted with a major blow-up, refusing to believe it.
14. Silence Isn’t Golden
My mom's family has a history of mental health issues that nobody really talks about. One of my mom's nephews had to battle severe depression; as a result, he lost his job as well as his car. His family did try to help, but I'm not sure what eventually happened to him.
Because only my uncle pays us visits, we get to know most things through him, but even those aren't discussed at length. I found out only recently that my mom has started taking anxiety medicines. She never brought it up and I contemplate whether she intended for me to know.
My dad's beliefs about depression and mental illnesses—according to him, depression is a product of the modern era because people aren't occupied enough—left me bewildered that my mom decided to seek help, get diagnosed, and start medication. But that's not the single most shocking family secret.
It turns out my maternal grandfather had electroconvulsive therapy. This nugget slipped from my mom only once during a conversation when she was wondering if her father and her nephew had a similar disorder.
I guess that he probably had acute depression and post-WWII PTSD, but sadly, I'll likely never have this confirmed since he's no longer with us and it isn't a topic our family converses about. It would have been fascinating to hear his personal experiences of WWII, but I think he took all of his tales with him when he passed.
There's probably more, but since no one in our family discusses these things, I'm pretty much kept in the dark. I can tell my doctor that diabetes and hypertension run in my family, but when it comes to mental health, I'm only left with educated guesses.
15. He Was Written Off
At my gran's memorial service, I discovered she had a brother that our family never mentioned before. My family is really close-knit and small, so it was surprising to learn about this unknown relative.
Interestingly, he resides in Florida and pens books speculating about government figureheads being alien reptilians. Actually, having a published writer within our family is quite a revelation!
16. He Turned It Around
I had an uncle who was quite accomplished. He was an instructor of industrial art design at a well-known school located in a bustling city. He owned this cozy townhouse downtown, and truth be told, was the warmest and most captivating person you'd ever come across. Bad temper was foreign to him—all he ever knew was positivity.
Then one fine day, when his sleeve slid up, I noticed a tiny "J" inscribed on his wrist. Upon inquiring about it, he immediately dismissed the question, remarking it was unimportant, before promptly distancing himself. His reaction stunned me as earlier, his warmth had been unwavering.
Confused, I turned to my mom for answers—and her revelations left me speechless. As it happened, my uncle had a bit of a rebellious past, having been involved with a gang during his youth. His involvement escalated to a point where a close friend's death jolted him. That tragic incident served as motivation for him to streamline his life—and he nailed it.
He threw himself entirely into his academics, honing skills in woodworking and metal crafting, and eventually paving the way for his later success.
17. Got To Be Hiding Something
For a long time, I had a weird feeling there was a secret in my family, I wasn't sure what it was, just that it existed. Whenever I'd discuss it with my mom, she'd just brush it off and tell me I was imagining things. The truth surfaced after my cousin tragically passed away due to driving under the influence.
To my surprise, I discovered the man I grew up thinking was my biological father, wasn't. The truth was revealed when I was in my early 20s, and I handled it quite calmly. My dad appreciated my composed reaction, expecting me to lose it. However, what really stumped me was the realization that virtually everyone in my family was in the know—all my aunts, uncles, older cousins and so on.
The fact that they managed to keep such a secret so successfully for such a long time really unnerved me.
18. Dark Cloud Over Sunny Skies
I've never been a fan of having my photo taken, but I never really understood why. My mother's story about her second marriage, after my father, shed some light on it. She spoke about it through tears, telling me how he ended up in jail for spreading explicit photos.
In the years that followed, harrowing memories started to come back, shattering me. Determined to face it, I found him living in Michigan. I didn't hesitate, walked right up to him, and asked him to bare it all. I was astounded by his openness.
He claimed he had turned his life around, sought redemption from me. He talked about making substantial sums per photo, using the money to fuel his addiction. I couldn't forgive him, and I don't think I ever will. The worst part was when he revealed that he used to call me "Sunny".
19. Too Close For Comfort
I once embarked on a big road trip with a family friend. We'd grown very close during a random trip six months prior, even though we hadn't really hung out much before that, except for when we had playfully flirted during high school.
Our plan was to drive from Billings, MT all the way to Washington, DC, about 30 hours of shared time on the road. Once we got there, I'd kick back for a few days before catching a flight back home. Excited, I phoned my folks to fill them in on my travel adventure. The conversation with my mom led to a surprising revelation.
"Don't sleep with him," she warned. Her tone indicated there was a backstory, which she then shared—he was my half-brother. Apparently, my mom and his dad had an affair, resulting in my birth. This was a secret that everyone kept from me—my parents, grandparents, and even my biological father.
Despite everything, my parents asked me to keep it under wraps, which was going to be tricky considering we'd flirted on the previous quick road trip. Shifting familial roles gave me whiplash—my relationship had transformed with everyone. The brother I thought we shared the same parents with was a half-sibling, the half-brother turned out to be a stepbrother, and the guy I once smooched in high school was indeed my half-brother.
Amazingly, we managed to pull through these awkward revelations, and I gathered the courage to spill the beans to my newly discovered sibling. Peeling back another layer, I discovered my parents had each cheated multiple times. Yet, they remained in marriage, surprisingly in love now, and had raised their children pretty well.
20. No Holding Back
I've known from a young age that my paternal grandmother had passed away, but nobody clued me in on the details. Once I reached my teen years, I began prodding my dad for information about his own upbringing and his parents' history. As it turned out, my grandfather had quite an unfaithful streak.
His committed relationship and responsibility towards his wife and five children didn't deter him from straying. His infidelity plunged my grandmother into a pit of depression that everyone failed to notice until it was tragically too late.
Following a heated disagreement with my grandfather, my grandma was taken by her eldest daughter to a secluded cabin they owned in Canada, a good hundred miles away from home. There, she was abandoned without any money, communication device or a means to return. The outcome was absolutely tragic.
She took her own life that same night. In the years that followed, it came to light that two of her eldest daughters had been siphoning money from my grandfather who was suffering from Alzheimer's at the time. When my father discovered this, he promptly froze their access to the funds. The news hit hard. Within two weeks, the younger sister took her life, leaving her two teens to find the gruesome scene.
At the unfortunate Aunt's funeral, her daughter received harsh words instead of comfort from her other Aunt. Yet, she didn't stop there; she had the audacity to offer this hurting 16-year-old girl prescription drugs. Our family has remained out of touch with her ever since.
21. At The Drop Of A Dime
Back in the 60s, my granddad owned a construction business. They lived nearby a man named Charlie who was pretty affluent. Charlie had a habit of collecting tiny cars—it was a popular hobby at that time. Once, granddad completed a job for him, and they settled on a payment of roughly $3,000.
Charlie informed my grandpa that he had his payment ready and invited him over. Upon arrival, granddad found that Charlie had a trailer hooked to his truck, filled to the brim with $3,000—all in dimes packed in little paper wrappers.
I only found out this crazy story recently because when it originally happened, my grandma got extremely upset. Any mention of the "dime debacle" had the potential to spiral her into utter outrage. In fact, the last time it came up, she was so furious, it almost seemed like she might have a stroke from sheer exasperation,
22. A Family’s Funeral Foible
When my grandpa died, we went through the usual steps of planning his funeral. We also wrote and published an obituary in our local newspaper. After his funeral, something rather strange occurred: another obituary for my grandpa popped up in the same newspaper, written by people we had never heard of. Needless to say, we were completely gobsmacked.
I was just ten when all this went down, but what I can recall is my grandpa had been married before he tied the knot with my nana. They had children together. I guess my nana knew about this, but they chose not to tell my dad.
His other family was really hurt we didn't let them know about his death or invite them to his funeral. We were left in a tricky position because up until then, we had no idea they even existed!
23. Suspicious Lineage
My great-grandpa used to run a bar in Atlanta, long before the Prohibition era. He had this bright idea to branch out and sell alcohol to other bars in the city wholesale. He proposed this to all the others and they seemed receptive, so he poured his whole savings into the idea.
But when it was go time, not a single one became his customer, mainly due to his unpleasant nature—nearly impossible to put into words. This scheme tanked and he lost all his money. Then, when Prohibition came into effect, he took on a new role as an agent and managed to put all those bar owners in jail. He even committed a series of cold-blooded acts against some men and never faced any consequences.
I come from a long lineage of unpleasant characters, cunning rule benders, and stylish dressers.
24. Finding Happiness Among The Ashes
When I was just four years old, my mom was expecting my little sister. Our family was buzzing with anticipation, all set for her arrival. We'd received cute clothes from relatives and had her room ready with a crib. Everyone, from our aunts to our uncles, was thrilled for her birth. However, just a few days after she was born, she sadly passed away due to complications.
I remember my mom telling me once how I approached her while she was crying. I assured her, "Everything will be okay, Mom". This story was later shared with me. We'd always kept a picture of my baby sister and a strand of her hair up on our wall, but I'd never inquired about the details of her passing.
Fast forward to when I was 25 years old. After losing my job and home, I spiraled into a deep depression. One day, as I tried to regain some normalcy, I decided to clean our garage. Among the familiar items we'd stored there, I came across a previously unnoticed box. Curious, I opened it—and my eyes widened with excitement.
Inside were tokens from the year before my sister Danielle's expected birth—from cards of well wishes to the outfits she was supposed to wear. Anguish combined with disbelief as I discovered an unsent letter, filled with anger from my mom towards the hospital's doctors. Then I found a plastic bag.
Inside, sobbing, I held my baby sister's cremated remains for ten long minutes. This is a tale I've never shared before, and I haven't yet found the courage to ask my parents about that box. However, I wanted a lasting tribute to Danielle, so I got a tattoo positioned over my heart, a spot close to my emotions.
Following that emotional discovery, I realized life was fleeting. I decided to take control and do something that would bring me joy. I told my parents about my plan to relocate across the country, to a city where I hoped to find happiness and work.
25. Mystery Solved
My parents were both previously hitched before they found each other. My mother spent around two years in Oklahoma City with her soon-to-be ex-husband. After that, she relocated to our city and lived nest door to one of my buddies' folks just prior to her divorce.
My father had a child from his first marriage, a girl who was called the daughter of one of his firefighter colleagues whenever her photos with me showed up. At 11, a family with two boys my age moved into my neighborhood, and we became great friends.
Their father had worked with mine at a local fire department way back before our time when my dad was still on his first marriage. My friend innocently poked fun at me about my mysterious sister and dad's past wedding, something that I had no clue about and thus I thought he was just being his jolly, humorous self.
However, as time passed, I realized my dad indeed had a secret past. In middle school, a year later, I happened to meet a fellow student whose parents were my mom's former Oklahoma City neighbors.
My mom once drove me to his place for a video game session. I had merely given her the address and mentioned that the house might be hard to miss, but surprisingly, she seemed to know the location off hand. Both his and my mom greeted each other warmly, like long lost friends reconnecting.
My mom confided in me that they knew each other since high school and shared a work history. My buddy's mom also knew about my mom's previous marriage. Once all these surprising relationships became apparent, both my sister and I were enlightened on our parents' past lives.
My mother's ex-husband was always out golfing or bowling, and they continually bumped heads. Eventually, she gathered her belongings and moved back to her parents' home, triggering a divorce process the next day. My dad's first marriage ended due to his faithfulness issues, and he permitted her new partner to adopt my half-sister.
As it turned out, we even attended the same elementary school for two years.
26. Mother Of Pearl! Where Did This Come From?
As a child, I was always captivated by a beautiful nightstand my grandma owned. It was decorated with mother of pearl and had intricate carvings. Recently, due to her onset of dementia, she moved in with us.
In one of her moments of reminiscence, she found herself back in Germany during the time of World War I. As World War II was just starting, she recounted working for a Jewish furniture craftsman. But one day, the craftsman vanished without a trace.
Some officers came to the establishment, telling her and a few others that they were free to choose any piece of furniture they wanted. That's when I realized, the nightstand I adored so much had a backstory connected to the Holocaust.
27. Keeping An Eye On The Lie
I'm engaged to a woman who has three kids from a previous relationship. We aren't married yet, but the four of us have been living together like a family for the past two years. The kids' biological dad, I must say, is far from a standup guy and is known for his double standards.
He also has a son from yet another relationship. This son, who at 42 is the half-brother to my soon-to-be stepchildren, used to work as a prison guard. Unfortunately, he's now serving time himself after committing two robberies to feed his substance addiction.
The father paints a different picture to his kids, though. He tells them their half-brother "lives just one state away and they're just dog-sitting his pet for a short period". He conveniently leaves out the truth: that their half-brother is in prison and they may not see him again for another decade or two.
28. Brother From Another Mother
When my great-uncle was just a teenager, he had a relationship with a girl that resulted in a pregnancy. To prevent family embarrassment, her parents sent her to live in Ontario. She had a son there, but my great-uncle, her old flame, didn't stay connected with them. Later on, my great-uncle settled down, got married, and raised a family of six kids, five daughters and a son.
A few years back, my great-uncle's son paid a visit to my late great-grandmother who was suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's. He made a light-hearted comment about being the sole male child among sisters. To this, she unexpectedly mentioned a mind-blowing secret: "Well, there was that other boy, but we don't speak of him."
That's how my cousin came to know about his elder half-brother from Ontario, a brother he would never have a chance to meet.
29. Keeping It All On The Down Lo
Well, my wife's uncle has quite a story to tell. He has somehow managed to have three separate families, with a total of 12 children, who are all grown up now. This unraveling secret became a hot family gossip just a few years back but then got quickly hushed down. His legal wife, however, chooses to live in denial about their existence. I haven't had a chance to meet his other two "wives", so I wouldn't really know their thoughts on this.
But my family is even more of a drama show.
My grandma once fell head over heels with a traveling farm laborer and had a baby with him. The secret and the baby were quickly tucked away as the baby was given up for adoption. Later, she walked the aisle with a man who went on to become our town's Mayor and a known business figure. They had three kids together and one of them is my Mom.
The family plot thickened when as an adult, my aunt fell in love with a man and married him. Little did she know that the man she married was actually her brother. Despite the revelation, they are committed to their marriage and have four kids. Only my uncle and I are privy to this family secret. This was all a part of a cover-up plan by my great-grandparents who whisked my grandma away in order to conceal her pregnancy.
30. Family Ties
Just before my grandma passed away, she shared with me a secret she had never told before. She confessed that while my grandfather was away during World War II, her brother-in-law had forced himself on her. She narrated the entire incident to me with every hair-raising detail, then she dropped this bombshell.
Somehow, my grandfather must have pieced together that my dad and aunt were not his true biological children. That was why, especially when he had been drinking, he would turn violent and abusive towards my grandmother, my father and my aunt. My grandfather was a notoriously mean person whenever he drank, who lashed out at anyone near him.
My grandma blamed herself, not just for the traumatic incident with her brother-in-law but also for the turmoil and pain she and her children suffered. My dad, indeed, had a conflicting relationship with my grandfather. They had even gone almost 13 years without speaking to each other.
Towards the end of my grandfather's life, my dad and he managed to find common ground, but deep down my dad always admired and respected his uncle. In fact, he wished that his father was more like his uncle, who was most probably my dad's actual father.
To this moment, the only person in my family I've shared this story with is my wife. Honestly, I wouldn't even know how to broach the subject.
31. Hidden Status
My mom's youngest sibling is living with HIV. For some reason, she hasn't shared this information with me yet. I reckon she must have a rationale for this, despite my ability to deal with such news. Still, I remain silent about my knowledge, respecting her decision.
Several times, I've subtly nudged her to confide in me, but she's remained quiet on the issue, not uttering a word.
Interestingly, it was my dad's inadvertent remark, a casual statement conceivably indicating this fact, from which I deduced it all. Had it not been for my mom's unusual reaction to his words—a sudden frenzy—I might not have given his comment a second thought. And that's how I pieced the puzzle together.
32. Dad’s Dark Discovery
One night when I was just about four or five years old, I woke up to find my mum missing from the house. My dad normally worked nights, so confusion led me to wake up my siblings, and we agreed to contact the police, which we did, and they promptly arrived to investigate.
Upon enquiring about our father's whereabouts, we informed them that he was an officer at the CHP, currently on duty. The city police were able to identify and locate him, notifying him about our situation at home. While all these were happening, our mom arrived home. It was already 5 AM, and her excuse was she was "at the store".
That always struck me as a bit odd—and later in my life, it hit me. I realized that my actions that night indirectly led to my parents' separation; that night had exposed my mum's infidelity to my dad.
33. A Life Of Sacrifice
Turns out, my grandma is actually my great-aunt. My real grandmother sadly passed away when my mother was only four—she died in a strange accident involving an electrical appliance at their home. After this, my two great-grandfathers had a serious chat.
The decided it was important for my mom, aunt, and uncle to have a maternal figure in the house. They didn't want the kids ending up in daycare or anywhere unfamiliar that wasn't within our family circle. So, my great-aunt was requested to leave her job as a university teacher to look after my mom, aunt, and uncle, and in the process, she tied the knot with my grandpa.
She sacrificed her whole life for my mom, aunt, and uncle. This family history bomb was dropped on me less than a year ago. That day, I also finally saw my "grandmother" for the first time in a photograph. It was a total mind-boggler!
34. My Brother Was A Raging Lunatic
I recently discovered that my older brother, almost a decade my senior, used to have several angry outbursts during his teenage years. Apparently, during those furious episodes, he would often use me as a shield and brandish a bat at our parents to keep them at bay. I don't recall any of these incidents, but I don't doubt they occurred.
These experiences likely shaped my tendency towards passive behaviour. A couple of years back, an unusual incident happened—my brother lost his cool at a family gathering, and my parents instructed me to escort his children away from the premises. They later explained the reason for their request. I'm relieved to report that my brother sought help after this particular episode.
35. Peas And The Pod
When my dad was 21, he was on the brink of marrying a different woman. It all fell apart over, of all things, peas. While deciding on the wedding meal's veggies with his then-fiancée, he found out that she and the caterer had chosen peas.
"But I can't stand peas. You're aware of that. We had planned for green beans," he said. She responded with, "But my mom suggested—" and that’s when it hit him.
With less than a week remaining, he called off the wedding. Then, while he was dating my mom, he worked as a travel agent and was frequently on the road. It seems he could earn a little extra if he carried a briefcase across customs. My dad epitomizes honesty, and he certainly looks the part too.
Before each flight, he'd receive the briefcase from a man and then deliver it to another guy upon landing. He was instructed to never peek inside or ask questions, and he always followed those instructions.
36. Visions Of Vietnam
My father, who was actually my grandpa, served as a Marine in the Special Forces, in the role of a sniper. He wasn't shy about his military history but kept the specifics under wraps. In 2004, he landed in the hospital for a month after a serious car accident, then spent the next two months in a rehabilitation center.
His cognitive state was already shaky, and they applied netting around his bed to prevent him from falling. This caused him considerable distress, revealing his unknown PTSD. They removed the net, placing his mattress on the floor for safety. This prompted a heart-to-heart conversation, in which I sought to understand his reaction.
He recounted a harrowing tale from the Vietnam War, and it left me in pieces. He said he was once restrained by Vietnamese soldiers until his squad saved him. He confirmed having taken down 14 enemy soldiers in the war, which deeply saddened him.
When I asked if most of his kills were from a distant range, he said all except two. During one close combat scenario, an enemy soldier approached my grandpa who was lying low in a trench. Reacting quickly, my grandpa dragged him down, stabbed and cut his throat. The other kill was in civilian areas.
On that day, a teenage boy, around 16 tried stealing from him which escalated into a fight. My grandpa stabbed him in the back. Hearing this story was chilling, especially given the victim's age.
But my grandpa confessed that in Vietnam, young boys could be as lethal as adults. He believed it was a kill or get killed situation, born out of a life-or-death scuffle. He knew of soldiers who lost their lives for underestimating such "boys" there.
Freepik, freepik
37. Keeping It All In The Family
Back in the late 1800s, my great-great-grandmother was just 13 years old when she tied the knot with my great-great-grandfather, who was in his mid-20s. They didn't have their first child for a good few years and eventually they had two kids, one of whom was my grandad, and the other was his sister, my great-aunt. Unfortunately, my great-grandfather passed away in 1933, when my grandpa was just five years old.
Later it came out that my great-grandfather had actually married his young bride due to a secret relationship he was having with her mother, my great-great-grandmother. She fell pregnant twice during their secret affair. With her own husband being significantly older than her and confined to his bed, this raised some eyebrows.
No one really talked about how dubious her pregnancies were or even hinted that she might be having an extramarital affair, but it was evident that people had their suspicions. Fast forward a number of years and someone finally spilled the beans that the folks my granddad believed were his aunt and uncle were in fact his half-siblings.
He dismissed it as nonsense at first, but a DNA test was done down the line that verified it as the truth.
38. The Second Time Around
When my aunt was in her late teens, she became pregnant with the neighbor's son, who was a bit older. Even though he lived next door, he didn't contribute to raising the child or provide any financial support. My cousin, therefore, grew up without a father. About a decade ago, my aunt fell pregnant by the same man again.
My mom informed me that he ended up in jail after establishing his own family. His wife and kids decided to distance themselves from him and had no interest in visiting, resulting in him reaching out to my aunt. Feeling lonely and seeking companionship, my aunt would make a two-hour journey to see him. This pattern persisted for a long time.
Currently, he shares a home with my aunt, and their son is a good young man. However, their first-born has chosen to sever ties with him, refusing to acknowledge his presence during festive events like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
39. Grandma Spilled The Beans At The Beach
When I was 16, I joined my grandma for a trip to the beach. She began reminiscing about the jobs she had on the pier during her own teenage summers around 1930. This was a rare window into her youth, and when she shifted the topic to her college days, I let her steer the conversation.
She revealed that she had attended art school for roughly a year and a half, but had to drop out midway due to her marriage to a man named Arnold. I was confused because my grandpa's name was Lance, so naturally, I asked, "Who's Arnold?" She casually responded, "He was my first husband", which took me aback. "First husband? Huh?"
As the story unfolded, it seemed that despite warnings from her mother, she and Arnold had married just before he shipped off to the South Pacific during World War II. Tragically, six months post-marriage, Arnold was involved in a plane crash, leaving him with severe burns over most of his body.
Choosing to shield her from a life of hardship, he took the painful decision to annul the marriage. A devastated 19-year old grandma then moved in with her mother, who never missed a chance to remind her that she had predicted this. In the following months, she crossed paths with and fell in love with my grandfather, Lance.
I shared this eye-opening revelation with my mom, who disclosed that she had discovered the secret husband when she unearthed a ring in the jewelry box at the age of 13. It was my grandmother's first wedding ring.
40. The Secrets Were In Full Swing
So here's the secret—I'm the only one who knows. One time, my mom let it slip when she'd had too much to drink, but she has no recollection of our conversation. You see, my parents got a divorce when I was only five. Within a couple of years, both of them had remarried—my dad sooner, within two years, and my mom in five.
Turns out, the reason for their split was my mom's infidelity. But there's a twist—both my parents were in the "swinging" lifestyle. My mom's affair was with a married man, a partner in their wife-swapping scheme. It seems my mom continued the affair even after the swinging stopped.
In an unexpected turn of events, my dad ended up marrying the wife of the man my mom was seeing, while my mom chose a completely different guy. Here's another layer to the story—my mom was born out of an affair my grandma had with the milkman! Interestingly, both my parents had earlier marriages before they got together, but neither resulted in any kids.
As per my mom, she was in a brief one-year marriage that was later nullified because her husband turned out to be into men. My dad had a seven-year long previous marriage. He insists he's only been married twice, and the rest of the family just plays along with this narrative.
41. A Multitude Of Mysteries
In both my maternal and paternal families, addiction is a common issue. Apart from one of my uncles, every member of my parents' generation, including my own parents, have experienced divorce and remarriage at least once. Many of my cousins aren't even sure who their fathers are.
It's likely I have middle-aged half-siblings somewhere in Mexico, thanks to youthful adventures of my dad. He was previously married to a woman who tragically died young of a heart condition. As for my mom, she was unfaithful numerous times throughout her marriage to my dad, though my dad, usually in an inebriated state, never really confronted the issue. But that's not the end of the story.
On my dad's side, there's a running assumption that one of my uncles works for the CIA. This theory stems from his habit of disappearing for long periods and his unexplained accumulated wealth from an ambiguous 'entrepreneur' role in a business that's vague about what it does.
In addition, he has a tendency to frequently travel to Eastern Europe while maintaining his primary residence in Washington DC.
Freepik, stockking
42. On The Hunt
Back when I was a kid, about eight to twelve years old, my mom and dad shared a shocking news about an accident my uncle had. They explained that he had been hunting for deer and needed to get over a barbed fence that was about as high as his chest. While doing so, his gun, which was on his hip, somehow got caught and shot a bullet through his foot.
This horrible accident led to several operations, and now he needs a cane to walk. I thought it was a freak accident and so did most of my family, but the real story was so much more complicated.
We recently found out the scary truth that he was actually the target of a criminal 'dealer'. The whole thing was a result of my uncle not settling his debts, stemming from a serious problem he had been hiding for over 15 years.
43. Secrets Three Generations Deep
My great-grandmother, burdened with schizophrenia, once attempted to smother my grandmother with a pillow while she was still a young child of six years. Tragically, my grandmother's little sister, at the tender age of two, tragically consumed some ammonia and died. The poor thing was laid to rest in their backyard.
Yet the darkest family secret wasn't revealed until later. My mother began an inappropriate relationship with her stepfather when she was just 15 years old. By the time she turned 17, she was also involved with my father. When she became pregnant with me, my father refused to acknowledge me as his child legally, as he was fully aware of my mother's scandalous affairs.
44. The Ring
Before my grandparents tied the knot, my grandmother, a native of Northern Ireland, was previously betrothed to another man. This union was broken up by her father due to the boy's Catholic faith, as they were Protestants.
This was something of an open secret among her sisters, but there was one problem—it was never discussed openly. My mom, aunt, and I only stumbled upon this truth after my grandmother's passing. The ring that she had worn on her right hand throughout her life turned out to be a keepsake from this man, a token of their bond when they were both around 20.
45. Pervy Uncle Chris
My uncle Chris, who is my mom's older brother by around seven years, didn't have the best relationship with my mom while they were growing up. I used to think this was just the usual older brother mischief, but I learned it was more serious than that. Last summer, my dad revealed that Chris had behaved inappropriately towards my mom in her bedroom when she was approximately 11 years old.
When this happened, my mom immediately informed her parents, who resolved the situation. Fortunately, it was a one-time incident. Even so, my dad took precautions to ensure I was never alone with my uncle. I found out about this when I was 22 and, as far as I know, my mom is unaware that I'm privy to this information.
46. Mom’s Multiple Attempts Unmasked
My dad's mother once had an affair which resulted in a child born with special needs. Sadly, my aunt passed away when she was just four years old. I didn't learn about her existence until after my grandma died when I was 16, since my dad never spoke about her. But my mom's side of the family has an even more complex history.
When I turned 18, my mom tried to end her own life. It was then that Dad told me this was her third attempt. After that event, she moved in with my grandma due to my parents' divorce. During my frequent visits, Grandma would often share revealing stories about our family's past.
Growing up, my grandmother was a part of the Third Reich's youth program. Her father served in the German army but unfortunately died mysteriously, allegedly at the hands of Czech militants. My grandma had two children before she was married. She always insisted it was against her will, but rumors suggest she may have been a sex worker.
When the second illegitimate child was born, my great-grandmother decided to take her own life. Shortly thereafter, Grandma married my grandpa and they relocated to the US. My grandpa was raised by parents who were strict Mormons—and also first cousins—so they virtually disowned him when he chose to leave the church.
47. No Reconciliation After This Revelation
When my mom was just 16 or 17, her world was turned upside down. Her dad suddenly emptied their bank account, announced he wanted a divorce, and took off to Italy. The devastating truth soon surfaced—he was having an affair with one of my mom's friends who was also her age and, sadly, he was leaving my grandmother for this young lady.
Motivated by their love for him, my mother and grandmother pursued my grandfather all the way to Italy. They hoped to persuade him to return home and reconcile—my grandmother was willing to forgive everything for the sake of her family.
Their pleas fell on deaf ears. My grandfather stubbornly refused to return to Canada with them. In response, my grandmother, overcome by grief, attempted suicide. My mom begged her father to assist her in getting my grandmother necessary medical help. But he outright refused, coldly claiming she was just faking it, even though my grandmother had inflicted serious injuries to her wrists.
For reasons beyond my understanding, they didn't seek local hospital help. Instead, my mom bandaged my grandmother's wrists well enough to get her on a plane back home. Once they landed in Canada, my grandmother was immediately put under intensive care to treat her devastating emotional breakdown.
This dark family secret remained well-hidden—it was not until I turned about 20 that my mom hinted at it. It took a considerable amount of time and patience to coax the full story out of her. Everything made a lot of sense then, especially my mom's firm determination to never make amends with her father.
48. Pushed To The Edge
My mom was really upset. She continuously asked my dad for a split, even though they remained friends. When I turned 20, my stepbrother, who was very tipsy, revealed to me that my mom was struggling to cope with my dad's worsening health problems. He was a lifetime diabetic, facing severe issues for as long as I could remember.
She then chose to be unfaithful with those close to my dad, including his friends and colleagues—people I had known my whole life. It seemed like my dad resisted her divorce request, only giving in after the 10th or 11th man. I was shocked, more so uncertain about the truth of my brother's words.
Thus, I decided to ask my dad directly if this was true. His confirmation left me feeling deeply betrayed. My view of my mom changed drastically and irreversibly.
49. Battle Royal
So, on my dad's side, I've got what you might call "hometown royalty" in my blood. My great-great-grandma landed a pretty impressive inheritance when her husband passed away—lots of land to her name. But you know how it was in the late 1800s, the family wasn't too thrilled about a woman owning all that land. Still, her son was slated to inherit once he grew up.
To put it simply, she felt like a stranger in a family who was only interested in her for her land. So, she pulled a power move: she gave her son her last name and skipped town, leaving behind the contentious last name that came with the land.
Slowly but surely, all the brothers, uncles, and cousins started selling off bits of land they'd claimed for themselves. New families kept showing up, everyone started inter-marrying—cousins with cousins, neighbors with neighbors—until they turned into one big tribe.
The family is still squabbling over the land, which has dwindled significantly. But, and here's a big BUT, they all treat my grandpa like a king. He would've been the next in line to inherit, if his dad's last name hadn't been changed. Even for minor issues, they seek his advice and treat him with great respect.
50. Friends Without Benefits
When I was a kid, my biological father left us, and my mom remarried. My stepsister and I were adopted by my stepdad, even though he and my mother didn't have children of their own. I found this unusual but never had the guts to ask my mom about it. My stepdad passed away while I was in university, and that's when my sister revealed the truth to me.
My stepdad was into men, something his parents greatly disapproved. He never found the courage to tell them, fearing their reaction. He didn't want his assets, including money, to fall into their hands in the event of his untimely death. Being close friends with my mom and quite fond of us kids, he chose to marry my mom, ensuring his property and money would go to her and not his parents.
What really blew my mind wasn't that he was into men, but that my mom was so accepting of it. I had always viewed her as someone who was indifferent to the LGBTQ+ community, preferring to keep her distance.
Sources: Reddit
