People Are Sharing The Wild Family Secrets They Learned Only After A Loved One Died

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“I just found out (three years after her passing) that my grandmother had gotten pregnant at 16 and given birth to a little girl at 17. This was back in the ’50s, so her entire family relocated to another state and had her stay at a home for unwed mothers until she gave birth, ultimately giving her up for adoption. I had always thought my grandmother was born and raised in Ohio, but it turns out she was actually from West Virginia. I can’t believe she took this secret to her grave.”

“Especially since my mom had also gotten pregnant at 16 and given the baby up for adoption. My mom didn’t even find out until eight months ago, when my grandmother’s sister told her about it. I wish she could’ve felt safe enough to disclose this to us, especially when my mom was going through the same ordeal, 20 years later. But, according to my great-aunt, she was deathly afraid that my grandfather would leave her if he ever found out. It makes me sad to hear that she lived most of her life in fear of being found out.”

—Anonymous