The middle granddaughter, Lindsay, always stood out in the family due to her blonde, curly hair, which was different from her siblings’ dark hair. Her grandmother, who adored her, initially believed that it was just a quirk of genetics. As she shared on Reddit’s AITA forum, “I thought genetics was being weird and I love her.”
The grandmother expressed her concern to her son and daughter-in-law about a secret surrounding the birth of their child. However, they dismissed her claims and advised her to drop the matter.
Lindsay was determined to find answers and refused to give up. She decided to reach out to her biology teacher, who acknowledged that her unique traits were indeed unusual.
Lindsay’s confusion and frustration grew, prompting her to seek guidance from her grandmother. The grandmother shared, “She came to me in distress, desperately asking me to purchase a DNA test because she needs to know.”
Her siblings all had black hair, while she stood out with her beautiful, blonde, curly locks.
The grandmother decided to buy a DNA test, which confirmed their suspicions. To put it briefly, the test revealed that the girl is not her mother’s biological child. The grandmother further explained that her son had fathered the child with someone else, and the biological mother had given the girl up for adoption.
Lindsay’s unique position in the family was that of a middle child. It was discovered that her father had fathered a child with another woman while still being in a relationship with his wife. This revelation naturally raises the question: How did the family manage to have a baby seemingly out of nowhere without arousing suspicion?
According to the grandmother, they were in a different part of the country when Lindsey was born, and she personally met her when she was around 6 months old.
She mentions that it wasn’t difficult to keep the pregnancy a secret, as their family has a history of miscarriages and it’s common for them to share news about a baby later in the pregnancy. The grandmother also adds that they followed the same approach with their oldest child and didn’t see any issue with it.
According to Shake_Speare423, it is highly disappointing that the son and his wife chose to deceive their daughter until she reached the age of 15 regarding a matter of utmost importance.
Furthermore, it is concerning that they continue to perpetuate the falsehood even after she started to express doubts. Shake_Speare423 emphasizes that understanding one’s genetic makeup can have significant medical implications, and without intervention, the daughter would eventually discover the truth through alternative means.
“It is important for individuals to have knowledge about their genetic background. Concealing information about adoption has been associated with higher rates of suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and depression. Prioritizing the safety and well-being of a child should take precedence over a parent’s desire to maintain secrecy.
A child’s right to receive comprehensive medical care should not be compromised by hiding the truth about their adoption. Perhaps certain matters, such as ensuring a child’s health, should hold more significance than a parent’s ability to deceive, confuse, and control their child.” emphasized RemembrancerLirael.
The majority of commenters expressed strong support for the grandmother’s decision to place herself in an uncomfortable situation in order to safeguard her granddaughter’s well-being, both mentally and physically.
While there was consensus on the importance of her actions, one commenter suggested that she could have approached the situation in a less divisive manner.
“Although my response may differ from the others, I believe it would have been better to approach your son and daughter-in-law first and persuade them to have a conversation with Lindsey.
You could have mentioned how the biology teacher pointed out certain traits that seemed unusual, and emphasized the importance of them addressing the situation before it escalated.
By doing so, it would have allowed them to prepare themselves and find a more gentle and considerate way to disclose the information instead of relying on a DNA test. I’m confident that they would have preferred to tell Lindsey themselves rather than have her discover the truth through a test.”