How I found out my parents were siblings, and my life changed forever

"I was revolted at me, so what would other people think?”

This woman found out her parents were siblings, and subsequently lived a life of shame - believing people "would think differently" of her if they knew the truth.

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[tedbaxter]

My Dad told me there are no “illegitimate children”, only illegitimate parents.
Bless this woman…

[Broken_Cracka]

Why do the children always feel the shame of what adults do? Bless her.

[michelehood]

When I found out that my dad wasn’t my biological father, a friend (who had a similar experience), told me something that I hold in my heart today. “There is your biological dad, ” she said. “And then there is your logical dad. Your logical dad raised you with love, support, protection. He taught you how to be a good person, and how to be a good parent in turn. You were his daughter - nothing can change that. You are your Logical Dad’s much-loved daughter.” That was such a balm for my truly broken heart.
I have one dad - that’s my logical dad. I love him, and miss him every day. ❤

[riggs]

The fact that her biological parents rejected her as an adult breaks my heart. They did not want to deal with the emotional issues they had caused her. What selfish cowards they were. I’m so glad she was blessed with a loving, adoptive family.

[lisaweber]

This woman is incredibly brave to tell her story. I admire her.

[woodnware]

I hid childhood abuse from everyone, including my parents, for over thirty years. This led to me turning to alcohol to self medicate. I'm now 64, and both my parents have gone. I could never bring myself to tell them, which only left me in another battle it's only in the last couple of years that I have been able to speak to trusted people about it. With the help of someone from AA, I'm nearly 2 years sober 👍

[godstonebenefice]

No-one chooses the circumstances of their birth. No-one should feel shame as a result of those circumstances.

[internetuser]

"You silly, silly woman!"
I LOVE that her friend told her that. I LOVE the way her family loved her.

[cynthiaevery]

How wonderful that she doesn’t have genetic issues. And looks like she was raised with love. How wonderful

[betsylindsay]

Mental, spiritual, and emotional intelligence abounds within this remarkable women. One in a million.

[ArjumandMahal]

A generational curse that she has broken at great cost to herself. Amazing woman. I am sure she is a wonderful Aunt.

[carmenblanchard]

I just want to hug her. I can’t imagine the strength it took to carry such a secret.

[cheyennetapiasmith]

As a "adopted person, " you always wonder "why" you were given up for adoption. I can honestly say, "I am sooo blessed to have been adopted." Ive always known because my mother always told me, "you were chosen; we chose you and we love you dearly." There was always someone in their, "my parents' circle of friends" that would openly say, "well you know they adopted her?" I overheard that comment and I repeated what my mom would say,
"I am chosen. My mommy and Daddy chose me and because they chose me, that makes me special." Ive always known i was dearly loved.
RIP MOMMY AND DADDY

[gayled]

I'm so sorry that she felt shame. She had done nothing wrong!

[cathi]

This woman is amazing and her story breaks my heart. I’m sad she didn’t have children - she would clearly have been a wonderful mother.

[skrfamily]

I feel her pain. The day I found out mine were uncle and niece made me sick. Can only imagine how she really feels.

[showmeyrkitties]

What a lovely, intelligent, articulate, woman. Inspirational! Thank you for speaking out.

[deerhaven]

My mother was the result of an incestuous union between her mother and her mother's older brother. When I found out the truth at the age of 34, I felt like someone had punched me in the gut. I cried a lot during those first few days afterward, but what can you do? They were dead and gone by then. I haven't openly shared this information because I can't imagine people wouldn't look at me differently.

[gillmiller]

She didn’t mess up.

No one should keep questioning women who don’t marry or have children.