The family you never knew existed

United States
June 17, 2017 9:16am CST
I am not entirely happy with the title but it is essentially what the discussion is about. This is also the third attempt of me writing this. I am trying to make it as short as possible so as not to deter people from reading the discussion. Let me get on with it then. I was on FB when I came across the list of "people you may know' and a name that took my by surprise. It wasn't the first name, but the last. My maiden name. Attached to a first (name) I didn't know and a face that I didn't recognize. Further looking into it would show that they are friends with a cousin of mine. Even more research would show that that isn't the only person on my cousin's friends list with the same last name as my father. I wanted to chock it up to coincidence. Maybe she knows these people from somewhere else, and they are in no way related to me. Not the case. Another person's profile, again someone I don't know, would show me a picture of a man I never met but whose face I recognized. My grandfather. My father's father. Even more research would show that these weren't the only two people with my dad's last name that might (in some obscure way) be related to me. An uncle an aunt, perhaps? That was my first initial thought on the two profiles I came across first. They are old enough, and the one who has a picture of my grandfather? She could have come from a relationship he had prior to meeting my dad's mom. Okay, then why is it that I don't know these people? Appearances (the woman having an old picture of my grandfather) would show that they have known of my family for years now... I stopped talking to my dad's side of things (except for the occasional perfunctory invite or respectful presence at a funeral) about 15 years ago. Honestly I wish I could tell you how I felt but I don't know what to think. Curiosity is one thing. I am definitely curious. Should I care? Should I try to reach out? I don't think so. What good would that do? "Hi I'm such and such the daughter of such and such and I am just curious as to who the heck you are?" I don't know, this has definitely brought up a lot of questions in my mind.
8 people like this
10 responses
@jaiho2009 (39140)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
I can forsee this thing might happen to my kids at the right time. Their father abandoned us 10 yrs ago and two years ago he showd up twice ( he visited his parents and his kids) and after that he's gone again. On his visit, he confirmed about his elicit affairs and having a 10 yrs.old son ,but he never bring his son to meet with his older kids. But I always believe that, there's no forever secret in this world.. time will come that, my kids will meet their half brother or half sister in due time.
1 person likes this
@jaiho2009 (39140)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum how I really wish for an arrangement. Even my kids asked their dad to bring their half brother for a meeting and he agreed, but he never come back up to now.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jun 17
@jaiho2009 Oh that's not very nice! My own dad was the same way. Making false promises.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jun 17
That is a sad situation. Your kids having at least one sibiling they've never met, and there may be more as well that he hasn't confirmed. I hope that he will let your children meet his children or that something can be arranged so that later in life they aren't confronted with this.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
17 Jun 17
I have nothing to do with anyone on my "dads" side. But have gotten friend request from some of the people. Only thing i want to know, is where my siblings are and if they knew about me
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jun 17
I hope one day you will be able to find out. Have you tried finding them on facebook or searching through common relative's facebooks?
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jun 17
@Courtlynn The changing names thing sucks! I tried to find my cousins (the ones I now have on my friends list) earlier but couldn't because I didn't know their married names. Hopefully you'll be able to find them.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
17 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum yes i have. Noone on my "dads" side knows where they are or if they got married and changed names or anythibg
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
18 Jun 17
I do not run into family I do not know, but I do run into friends who are friends of people I know from other venues, and I want to stalk them all and learn how we are all inter connected.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jun 17
I don't run into the types of situations you are referring to often. However, I learned recently that the man who manages / owns (not sure which, or if he does either at all.. He is always there though) the restaurant that I like to go to a lot.. Actually lives only a few houses away from us on another street. Small world.
@NJChicaa (127158)
• United States
17 Jun 17
That would definitely be strange to see. But, like you, I think I would just leave it alone.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jun 17
Let sleeping dogs lie, like the saying goes. Too much back history makes it a non ideal situation to gather info anyway.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10033)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
From the tone of this article, I believe you aren't interested in pursuing the matter farther. But will that change in the future, your curiosity and the need to find answers? I was reading a discussion earlier about researching one's genealogy and I responded that I wouldn't mind researching up to the 3rd or 4th generation but beyond this I am not interested. It's a question of "what purpose does it serve?"
• United States
17 Jun 17
I am curious, but not enough to poke the bear. If that makes sense? I honestly can't say whether it will change in the future or not. At this point in time I am debating on whether to try to call my dad tomorrow, send a text or even try at all. There is back history there, but the "good daughter" in me wants to try to reach out.. I don't think I'll get a response though. As for Genealogy I think you summed it up for me perfectly. I am more interested in those that aren't living than I am in those that are. Atleast as far as my dad's side of things goes.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10033)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum _I have experience going to a wake where the deceased's unknown second family showed up much to the consternation of the legal family.
@josie_ (10033)
• Philippines
17 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum _It probably wasn't your fault if you happen to live distance apart and do not run in the same circles. It would be difficult to maintain a connection.
@luispas (1674)
• Venezuela
17 Jun 17
First, this is not a long post, it caped my attention very well. Second, I can understand the feeling, and this is so common nowadays, don't worry. And you're not in the worst part, by the same way you found this people, my brothers and I found another sister that my dad had (resuming the long story), so, I thing if you're really interested on knowing this people, you should ask to your cousin to tell you about them, that could be a start. If you don't mind to do it, leave that aside.
• United States
17 Jun 17
My problem is I haven't talked to anyone (except my dad on rare ocassion) since 2009! Before that.. Oh 1990 something? It would be awkward and strange to do.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jun 17
@luispas We shall see, thank you.
1 person likes this
@luispas (1674)
• Venezuela
17 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum Now I can understand. Well, I think if you really want to know more...you could just try to do it. Or maybe, send a friend request to the people you think could be your family.
1 person likes this
@skysnap (20152)
17 Jun 17
I can see myself alone with all the contacts gone.
• United States
17 Jun 17
uhhm, I honestly have to say that I have no idea what to say to that...
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
17 Jun 17
I have A LOT of family that I don't know. Like your story, it would involve too much complication to explain it on myLot. I am always wanting to reach out, but there was animosity and there are questions which will never be answered, and it's too muddling. Some things are best left. Maybe they'll reach out to you? Edited to add: Do you have access to a family tree site like Ancestry which may have records of past marriages/births, etc.? I am always looking there in an effort to quench my insatiable thirst!
• United States
17 Jun 17
They do not know I exist. Even if they wanted to search me on fb, I've put my facebook as private... It's a real mess, I tell ya. I stopped talking to my dad when I was around the age of 14. I moved from my mom and dad's house to my mother's parents house at that age also. I was afraid of my dad. Now it's 15 years later, my mom has been gone for several years, and I am still no closer to my dad.
• United Kingdom
17 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum I always thought my family was confusing, but yours takes the biscuit! Is the cousin whose Friend List you found these relatives on a friend of yours, or do you stalk them?!! I'm guessing the latter, otherwise you would surely talk to them about it. :)
• United States
17 Jun 17
@Poppylicious I had the intention of talking to them more when I added them as my friends... The road is paved in good intentions!
@diosabella (4789)
17 Jun 17
In my place, I don't want to know. Specially when they act like they are close to me when I don't even know them at all.
• United States
17 Jun 17
Oh I don't like those types of people. The ones who act like they know you better than they do.
18 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yes! I feel that in their point of view its okay for them but not for me. And I don't think time will make the situation a lot better.
@dgobucks226 (37621)
17 Jun 17
I hope you can find some answers to the questions that you raised and get some closure
• United States
17 Jun 17
Yeah.. . That's not gonna happen. Without going into a family history lesson here on mylot.. It's just not plausible.
@dgobucks226 (37621)
17 Jun 17
• United States
17 Jun 17
1 person likes this