People Who've Taken Ancestry DNA Tests Explain Which Secrets They Uncovered About Their Family
Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it. That is one of the wisdoms of life that people are always throwing around. It can be especially true when meeting your idols, finding your dream job and searching down blood relatives you knew nothing about. The DNA discovery craze has been all the rage the past decade or so. Everyone is running around contacting family they never knew they had. That can be quite the Pandora's box of family secrets and scandal.The outcomes have been all over the place. Though one of the best led to the discovery of the Golden State killer so that's a win.
Redditor u/VideoFork wanted to know who would be willing to give up some salacious tea about their blood tie discoveries by asking..... People who have taken an ancestry DNA test and accidentally uncovered a family secret, what was it?It's Me!
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQ5ODc1My9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzY1NzM4NH0.sljm7MeMIsDj2e_K6sGigmvoPQn8W8GdgWqO650hayo/img.gif?width=980" id="2ca35" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="19bedcd39bc2172fa2b04579ff146e3a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="480" data-height="269" />Alexa Bliss Reaction GIF by WWEGiphy<p>I am the family secret, family discovered their brother/cousin/son and his wife had 3 children and gave them all up for adoption - after matching with me through a DNA test.</p><p>They were shocked to say the least, but we're all pretty close now. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kzwvgo/people_who_have_taken_an_ancestry_dna_test_and/gjqj1mm?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank"> _orange-soda_</a><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kzwvgo/people_who_have_taken_an_ancestry_dna_test_and/gjqj1mm?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3">_</a><span></span></p>That Type of Guy
<p>My aunt discovered that her mother cheated on her father and she was a product of that affair, meaning she was actually only half-siblings with her 4 siblings.</p><p>The rub was that my aunt's husband was married before he married her. The woman he was married to is the daughter of the man involved in the affair. So no one knew this, but my uncle got divorced and then married his ex-wife's half-sister. I guess he has a type. </p><p><span></span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kzwvgo/people_who_have_taken_an_ancestry_dna_test_and/gjqq9ar?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Herd_That</a></p>Zulu Forever
<p>I was adopted and always knew I was adopted. My parents told me that I came from a family that had already had all of their kids. They lived several towns over. I was a surprise.</p><p>Three years ago my wife decided to take some DNA tests. I figured what the heck? Maybe I'm part Zulu warrior. That'd be cool.</p>The Line
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQ5ODc1NS9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjA1ODQ0MH0.lKWcUjFW9D6Apy82iY-9dIK1XxgD5EvJXabfisHYnq0/img.gif?width=980" id="e2253" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="27752de2a06fc055814c254bf91ec9eb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="480" data-height="468" />ramsay bolton creepy smile GIF by Game of ThronesGiphy<p>Found out I have a different father. My dad also took a DNA test at the same time and found out his father, of 52 years, was not his biological father either.</p><p>As it turns out, I come from a line of bastards. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kzwvgo/people_who_have_taken_an_ancestry_dna_test_and/gjqnsw9?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Benevolent_Burrito</a></p>Bad Mom
<p> I was given up for adoption by my bio mom and none of her family knew about me. However, i was not her first or last child. I was her second of 4 kids. My older half brother (we all have different dads. I don't know who mine is and i don't think bio mom does either) was adopted by my bio moms parents. Her whole family found out about me when i found her when i was 19 and went to visit. </p>That one time....
<p>Not me, but a friend never knew who his father was (mom had a weekend fling in college and never contacted the guy after) and his wife helped him use ancestry.com to try and track him down. My friend reached out and the guy was obviously surprised, but flew across the country to meet him. They have a great relationship now, the dad attended his wedding, and they try to get their families together a couple times a year or so. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kzwvgo/people_who_have_taken_an_ancestry_dna_test_and/gjqktaz?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">djsquidnasty</a><span></span></p>What a Man....
<p>My FIL was married to at least 2 women at a time. Nice guy but a man wh*re, and I think he just didn't want to let each woman down when she got pregnant and/or started bringing up marriage. My MIL says that he was already married when they got married, but we also know that he has a child 3 months younger than my husband and the woman and child both go by FIL's last name (and that's NOT the woman MIL claims he was married to when he married her). So he might possibly have had 3 wives at the same time. My husband has upwards of 10 half siblings from his dad. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kzwvgo/people_who_have_taken_an_ancestry_dna_test_and/gjr84gq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank"> froglover215</a><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/froglover215/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a><span></span></p>You're Fired....
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQ5ODc1Ni9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MTA2NjA0MH0.kpHQWgXjSP8hxHVaDe5maZQGTHHhd2DlzaCBqwtVnrs/img.gif?width=980" id="8a9c4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="620ba7ae18cc58755d9e361353870552" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="500" data-height="500" />howie mandel omg GIF by America's Got TalentGiphy<p>My wife is adopted (but found her bio mom) and did one of the genetic tests. Someone matched with her and asked if she knew such and such a name. She found out her bio dad wasn't married to the bio mom.... it was her boss. oops. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kzwvgo/people_who_have_taken_an_ancestry_dna_test_and/gjqj7me?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">valeyard89</a><span></span></p>A Favor
<p>My male cousin did one and found a female cousin we did not know about. He reached out to her and apparently our deceased uncle was good friends with her mother. Mom wanted a baby so uncle got her pregnant simply as a sperm donor.</p><p>Female cousin lived a few blocks away from my grandmother. She had met her a few times going around selling Girl Scout cookies or something. My grandmother had no idea that she was buying cookies from her granddaughter. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kzwvgo/people_who_have_taken_an_ancestry_dna_test_and/gjqfjd4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">OrangeTree81</a></p>The 3
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTQ5ODc2NC9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMDE5Mjg3M30.gMlgHaRpi1efaYHD_iS54zuuSsPF993mzwlC9QXSwww/img.gif?width=980" id="5f143" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="123c601ee6bc6e6cbfa7352dc022088f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="499" data-height="281" />Angry Siblings GIF by Party of FiveGiphy<p>On the flip side - my dad used to say my mom slept around and none of the 3 of us were his kids. Welp, thanks to the test, we know all 3 of us are! </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kzwvgo/people_who_have_taken_an_ancestry_dna_test_and/gjqm347?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sparklypiggy</a><span></span></p>Look back far enough in your ancestry, and you're liable to find something dark.
A Key Detail Comes to LightÂ
<p>"My grandfather was killed in a bar when my father was still a toddler. The official story was that he was murdered over a pinball game (back then pinball was pretty serious, I guess)."</p><p>"It wasn't until recently my grandmother confessed, on her death bed, that my grandfather actually killed someone and buried the body, days before his own demise. So he was actually killed in retaliation for a murder that he committed."</p><p>"My grandmother kept this secret for almost 65 years."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gimqqep?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">itsovermyhead</a></p>For One Person, An Impossible Secret to Keep
<p>"It's me. My dad never told his family I existed. I was shameful, maybe he was more ashamed."</p><p>"After he died they found out about me and kindly asked me not to come to the funeral. I get why he never told them."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gims2ms?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">ninetiesluddite</a></p>Nepotism With an Extra Red FlagÂ
<p>"My dad gave a job to a cousin. I remember as a kid that this cousin I'd never heard of just suddenly popped up out of nowhere without explanation but I was a kid so didn't really think of it, but everyone made a big deal out of how great it was for my dad to give him a job."</p><p>"I found out 20 years later that the cousin had been in prison for having a relationship with a student."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gim6cuq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">dj_baberahamlincoln</a></p>Some Stones Are Better Left Un-Turned
<p>"A year or two after her adoptive mother died, my mom went looking for information about her birth parents, and found that her birth mom and her husband had been gruesomely murdered by a drug cartel."</p><p>"There was an article about their murder in Rolling Stone magazine that had gory pictures of their bodies."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gimq0r3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">hemulaformis</a></p>She Lived to Tell
<p>"My cousin, once removed (my parent's cousin) was kidnapped and tortured by a serial killer. She was (after many days) dropped off near a running path with her neck slit."</p><p>"She lived (unlike the other 3) and she could lead the police to his home. He is still in prison."</p><p>"As a child I heard whispering of it and didn't find out the whole truth until I was older."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gimgrpq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">instrangestofplaces</a></p>Capitalizing On Your Resources
<p>"I had an uncle who moved far away, worked in a boiler room at a huge casino, decades ago. He was always sketchy, and he had way more money than a simple boiler room employee ought to have had."</p><p>"Rumours that the boiler room was a really useful thing for the mob, due to boilers doubling as incinerators for certain purposes. Hence the money. Many unanswered questions there."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gim3dwm?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">UtopiaForest</a></p>Sounds Like Classic 1930s Stuff
<p>"My great grandfather shot and killed a man in his grocery store back in the 30s over a poker game."</p><p>"He ran a speak easy out of the back of his store and lost almost $2k so as the guy was walking out the front after the store closed he shot him and got away with it by telling the police the man robbed him."</p><p>"It wasn't until he was on his death bed he told my grandfather what had happened."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gim6d0x?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">CowMajorAU</a></p>Based On True EventsÂ
<p>"In the film Driving Miss Daisy, when the chauffeur (played by Morgan Freeman) is driving Miss Daisy to worship service, they get stuck in a traffic jam. He gets out to see what the hold-up is."</p><p>"When he gets back in, he says 'you won't be going to service today, somebody done bombed the temple.' (Hebrew Benevolent Congregation Temple, Atlanta, 1958)."</p><p>"She says 'What - who would do such a thing?'"</p><p>"My uncle, that's who."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gim6d0x?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Igotthesilver</a></p>Cool as Cucumbers
<p>"Father won the lottery and we've been pretending to be poor so our family doesn't try to ask for money." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gimuz2l?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">holyydiver32</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Safest bet. Family turn at even the chance of running someone else into the ground for money. Your father is a clever man" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gin34bs?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Pudgeysaurus</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"That's a solid strategy especially with family who believe that NO is a suggestion and not a statement." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gin7zon?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Goinghame</a></p>An Unfortunate Thing To FearÂ
<p>"One family member killed another by leaving a bag of poisoned donuts on the front steps. We are now 'hesitant' about accepting donuts." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gimnqjc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">grouchycyborg</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Where do you live with such frivolous donut dispersion?" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gimwijj?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Sigg3net</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"I'm just imaging your whole family being sceptical about ever being offered a donut and it has made me chuckle. Sorry for your loss tho." -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kthqw8/what_is_your_darkest_family_secret/gin006d?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">MonsterMunch86</a></p>When you become a parent a certain amount of wisdom flows through you... well so they say, some people ignore the knowledge, good parents embrace it. Of course a lot of knowledge comes with age and life experience. The whole "been there, done that mantra is life gold." So we really need to listen harder and check ourselves when our parents sit us down for a chat. There is so much to learn and then more to share.
Redditor u/mjorcasiver wanted to know who learned from their parents wisdom that could help us all by asking....
What's a lesson you've learned from a parent that you wish others would know?
Not One Thing.
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQwMDAyNy9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTU0MzQ0M30.t4j-nTLPb5Q5Sb2Yacip-txmMoBgXqlUON5GBU7B9Q0/img.gif?width=980" id="90e8c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2476c5a4393167813057dbb9bd8f6180" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="500" data-height="281" />Giphy<p>You cannot allow one aspect of your life to define you, no matter how important that aspect is.</p><p>If you let your job become who you are, or your politics become who you are, or any one piece of your life supersede all else, it is a short trip to an identity crisis.</p><p>Allow yourself to be varied. It's fine to have a central focus, but be sure to allow some portions of your life that are entirely separate from it. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/h9wpsn/whats_a_lesson_youve_learned_from_a_parent_that/fuzekz9?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x" target="_blank">ligamentary</a></p>Justice/Fairness....
<p>"You can screw up a lot of different ways with a kid, but the absolute most important thing is that they always feel loved." <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/h9wpsn/whats_a_lesson_youve_learned_from_a_parent_that/fuze8g9?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x" target="_blank">Sandvick</a><span></span></p><p>I'll add to this, your kids often need different things to feel loved: Your entire focus, Play, affection, Food & Gifts/Material things. One kid might be a hugger and the other needs you to listen to a a detailed re-cap of their video game boss-kill.</p>The Flirt.Â
<p>If someone flirts with you, and you don't like them back, say no. A good person will accept that no and move on. If they don't, feel free to create a scene, get help, or what ever you need to do to feel safe.</p><p>And that they will have my back. Always.</p><p>There was a case when I was in my late teens when a friend mine started bringing his friend around to hang out. Guy was a douche, leered at the girls and insulted the guys. </p>Bye Blood....
<p>That family isn't always blood and it's okay to walk away from them for your own mental health. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/h9wpsn/whats_a_lesson_youve_learned_from_a_parent_that/fuze4kg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x" target="_blank">mperfectphoto</a></p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/imperfectphoto/" target="_blank"></a><span></span>If only they didn't ruin my life and left me unable to fend for myself. Currently severely injured, jobless, broke and depending on the good will of my parents to be able to live.</p><p>I don't want to live this pathetic existence. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/h9wpsn/whats_a_lesson_youve_learned_from_a_parent_that/fuzu67e?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x" target="_blank">mike117</a></p>Be All In.Â
<p>A solid work ethic is more valuable than pure intelligence. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/h9wpsn/whats_a_lesson_youve_learned_from_a_parent_that/fuzcdhw?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x" target="_blank">andcat789</a><span></span></p><p>I really like this bit of advice. I was one of those kids who could easily ace every test in middle school, and I didn't spend a minute studying. Then I started high school, took a bunch of advanced courses, and got sh!t on because I had no idea what studying even was. I didn't even know about the very concept of studying. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/h9wpsn/whats_a_lesson_youve_learned_from_a_parent_that/fuzgd7v?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x" target="_blank">r34_content_creator</a></p>Work and a Smile.
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQwMDA1MS9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTI5NjI5OX0.-sNH17neXB-yp62jUSLQzzR4Qwuj-WUNYtxZPpd11MA/img.gif?width=980" id="8bd65" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="684a4327c3cccf9da60e314d7d865f89" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="240" data-height="180" />Giphy<p>Hard work without likability gets you a hard earned paycheck. Likability without hard work gets you an easy paycheck. But hard work with likability gets you a promotion. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/h9wpsn/whats_a_lesson_youve_learned_from_a_parent_that/fuzc0b5?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x" target="_blank">CRRT93</a></p>Positive Only.Â
<p>Some advice I read somewhere was to not make the thoughts appear from your head/mouth/face. As stupid as it might seem you can actually make it seem like your thoughts are voicing itself from other parts of your body, and moving it elsewhere kinda helps suppress them. Whenever I get negative thought I move it to my butt. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/h9wpsn/whats_a_lesson_youve_learned_from_a_parent_that/fuzirip?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x" target="_blank"> poopellar</a><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/poopellar/" target="_blank"></a></p>A Good Leader.Â
<p>When I got my first management job my dad gave me 2 pieces of advice.</p><p>"You serve at the will of your subordinates. Treat them well and you will all succeed."</p><p>"Your employees' success is theirs. Their failure is yours." <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/h9wpsn/whats_a_lesson_youve_learned_from_a_parent_that/fuzesjq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x" target="_blank">HoopOnPoop</a><span></span></p>It's Not Just You.Â
<p>Consider others feelings. Don't dump your crap on them, because (a) it's your crap not their's- take ownership and don't pass the blame, and (b) you don't know what kind of crap they could be dealing with. If you just pass it onto them they will just throw it back at you with more crap and can make you feel worse. You won't grow as a person always blaming others and you could potentially damage your relationship with someone or at the very least piss someone off. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/h9wpsn/whats_a_lesson_youve_learned_from_a_parent_that/fuzekl3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x" target="_blank">Lightmareman</a></p>Thanks Pops.
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQwMDA2Ny9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1ODA1OTE0MX0.U8i1MVYUM_YN5eEKM84ZDx9OfL9PtRBvpFkuseuOBes/img.gif?width=980" id="d618b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2facdf8aaff0b88b3dce031b5c6a8e86" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="480" data-height="270" />Giphy<p>My old man had so many things that I still think back on and tell my kids.</p><p>A few that stick with me are:</p><p>When you get tired, learn to rest, not quit.</p><p>There's no nobility in being better than someone else. Nobility is being better than a past self. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/h9wpsn/whats_a_lesson_youve_learned_from_a_parent_that/fuzhktx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x" target="_blank">TacoDoc</a></p>Adults hide things from children for better or for worse.