For Lisa, finding the right dress was everything, and when she was finally able to get her hands on it, disaster struck, leaving her hopeless and devastated. But the real page-turner would happen much later, when a kind gesture from her grandma ended up revealing a shocking family secret that was hidden for decades.
A Responsible Student
Lisa had always been a responsible and determined student, always making sure to excel in her academic courses and get the best grades possible. Throughout high school, she kept her GPA high and did all sorts of extracurricular activities. Lisa always knew the meaning of hard academic work and knew it was imperative to have the future she wanted.
She didn’t come from a wealthy family and understood from a young age that getting good grades meant getting into a good college, and ultimately getting a well-paid job. The end of high school was approaching, and prom night was happening soon; Lisa felt she’d earned that magical night with all her hard work.
A Beloved Teenager
Apart from being an excellent student, Lisa was also a beloved teenager among her peers and teachers. She got along with everybody and participated in school committees and clubs. Lisa had a close group of four friends that she always hung out with, but there wasn’t a single person at the school she didn’t get along with.
Her teachers loved her too, as she was always willing to help with class projects and do extra work. If anyone had earned a perfect, fairytale prom night, it was definitely Lisa. So, just like everybody else in high school, she started to plan for the big day.
Getting Ready for the Big Day
Even though there were still months left until prom night, Lisa, being the responsible planner that she is, started with preparations early on. Moreover, she was a member of the prom organization committee, so she was up to speed on the theme, the band, and even what materials and colors the decorations would be.
Therefore, she had a pretty clear idea of what she wanted her dress to look like. Since the prom was going to have a fairytale theme, she knew her dress had to be something magical. She thought of all the possible dress shops in town that could maybe have what she was looking for.
Dress Hunting
Lisa and her friends decided to meet one weekday afternoon and go to every dress boutique in town, carefully scouring their options. They all wanted to look like fairytale princesses, and thus had an idea of the style of dress they were after. Prom needed to be a night they would never forget, and the photos had to look perfect.
As they searched for the perfect dress, they also started imagining what shoes, jewelry, hairdos, and makeup they would use. The night would definitely be a memorable one for Lisa, only it would be for an entirely different reason than she expected.
Finding the Right Shop
After going into every shop in town, the girls finally found a small store right outside of town, and they quickly realized this place had everything they looked for. They could see from the window display that the shop had the most stunning dresses they’d seen, in all different styles and colors.
They basically ran through the door and scattered throughout the shop to start looking for their perfect gown. They each chose a favorite dress and as they started to show one another, one of the girls noticed the price tag on her dress. She was shocked and saddened.
Many Choices, Few Possibilities
Joy quickly turned into sadness the moment the girls started to realize the dresses they’d picked were all completely out of their budget. The shop offered all sorts of dresses – gowns, cocktail dresses, off-shoulders, wrap dresses, and more. But the ones the girls wanted were the fairytale type, which the store had plenty of, each based on different Disney princesses.
Unfortunately, these dresses, made of high-quality materials like chiffon, were more expensive than the rest. The girls didn’t know what to do, they knew the price tags were way too high, but they’d been thinking about their prom night dresses for months and had finally found ones that they loved. Lisa and her friends didn’t know what to do.
Way Too Expensive
The boutique dress shop was clearly out of their budget, as they soon came to the realization that even the lowest-priced dresses were barely in their budget. They hung their dresses back on the rack and left the store with a heavy heart.
There is nothing worse than spending months looking for something specific that you truly love, and finally finding it just to realize you can’t have it. Lisa was especially disappointed; she had planned this day for a very long time, and she needed it to be perfect. She didn’t know what her next steps were, but she knew she wasn’t going to compromise on her dream dress just because of a setback.
The Search Continues
Lisa and her friends left the store with heavy hearts, but they decided to continue their search for a perfect dress they could afford. As they scoured new stores from nearby towns, they realized that finding the perfect dress had ruined them for any future gowns they might find.
What might have been an acceptable choice before was now subpar because they knew what the perfect fairytale dress looked like. Lisa, however, had already made a decision in her head without telling her friends. She had decided she was not about to give up on that incredible dress she’d found in the boutique shop. She was hatching a plan.
The Cinderella Dress
The dress Lisa set her heart on was a gorgeous, sleeveless gown that was made out of a classy chiffon fabric in the top and had a grand balloon skirt. The tag on the dress even read “Cinderella.” Lisa knew this was meant to be her prom dress, the one she would make an entrance with, the one that would be pictured in photos for the rest of her life, so she never forgot what she looked like on that magical night.
Lisa went back to the store the next day, this time she was by herself, and she looked for her Cinderella dress. It was still there; she took her time to run her hands through the elegant fabric and dream about how it would look like on her.
Considering Her Options
Lisa thought of every possible way she could pay for the dress, and obviously, the first one was asking her mom for a loan. However, Lisa knew what her mother’s financial situation was like – she saved every penny and the last thing she could afford was to buy her an expensive prom dress. It just wouldn’t be fair.
Lisa’s mom was already working two jobs to support her and her siblings and asking her for extra money was out of the question. She couldn’t be so selfish, so she started to consider other options, and suddenly thought of checking the money she had stored away in her piggy bank from babysitting jobs.
Counting Her Savings
Lisa had been putting coins and small bills inside her piggy bank for years, and she was bound to have racked up some sort of savings by now. So, she cracked open the piggy bank and went over her finances. Sadly, it was still not enough to cover even half the price of the dress. But Lisa was determined – that Cinderella dress belonged to her, and she couldn’t imagine spending her prom night wearing anything else.
She had to think of something because letting the gown go was not an option for her. Lisa dreamt about the dress, she thought of its perfect blue chiffon fabric and imagined the dress hanging in her closet. That was her dress, she just knew it.
Daydreaming
For days, Lisa walked by the shop every day after school just to look at the gown from the window and make sure no one had bought it. She stared at her perfect dress and daydreamed about what shoes it would go well with, or what hairdo would pair with it best.
Lisa even thought about the makeup she would wear, it had to match the dress’s color. She imagined what she would look like when she was ready to make her big entrance on the dance floor, feeling like a real-life Disney princess. Little did she know that getting this dress would be the first step towards uncovering a family secret that had been hidden for decades.
Asking Her Mother for Advice
Lisa asked her mother for advice about her problem, hoping she could offer a solution. She told her mom about how she’d wanted to get a fairytale-themed dress and the fact that after months of looking, she had found the perfect one. She told her about the hefty price tag and asked her mom what she would do.
Her mother was a hospital nurse who was working back-to-back shifts, she was exhausted and had to take some time to sleep and think about what she could say to Lisa. She wanted to give her daughter some sound advice that would actually help her get what she wanted.
Thinking of a Solution
After getting some hours of proper rest, Lisa’s mother woke up and prepared herself some coffee. She sat at the kitchen table pondering her daughter’s problem. She always wanted to give her kids everything they wanted, and even though they didn’t come from money, she made sure they never lacked anything at home.
She went over her checkbook and realized she didn’t have the full amount for the dress that very moment, so she started to calculate how many more work shifts it would take her to come up with the entire sum. She knew Lisa had been planning her prom night for months, so she had to come up with something.
Helping Her Daughter
Lisa’s mom wanted her to get the perfect prom dress, as she knew how important this day was for her. So, after much deliberation and some accounting of her finances, she decided she would give Lisa half the money for her dress. That significantly increased Lisa’s chances of being able to come up with the rest of the sum if she found a job.
As much as she would have loved to give Lisa the entire amount to cover the cost of the dress, she knew that meant working more shifts which in turn meant leaving her kids alone for more time. She had to balance things out, and she also thought a job would be good for Lisa.
Lisa Is Over the Moon
When her mom told her she would pay for half the cost of the dress, Lisa started crying with tears of joy. She was so happy and thankful that her mom even considered this an option, especially knowing how hard she worked for every penny. Lisa’s mom told her she would give her half the amount if Lisa got a job and covered the remaining sum.
Her mom took this opportunity to teach Lisa about the value of hard work and the importance of earning the things she wanted in life. Lisa immediately agreed and thanked her mom repeatedly; she would focus on finding a job as soon as possible.
A Possible Job
Not only did Lisa’s mom offer to pay for half of the prom dress, but she also managed to get her a job so she could pay for the remaining half. It turns out that Lisa’s mother had a friend who owned a popular bakery in town, and she was looking for someone to run the counter and cash register.
She asked her daughter if she would be interested in the job. Before her mother could finish the sentence, Lisa hugged her and said she would immediately take the job. She couldn’t wait to speak to the bakery owner and start getting shifts.
Working Hard
Lisa remembered she’d gone to that bakery with her mother several times, and she loved their pastries. She also knew the owner, who was a very sweet lady and soon to be her new boss. Also, it turns out that Lisa had previously worked at a cash register in a local town shop before, so she knew her way around a counter.
Lisa’s mother called her friend and told her the situation; the bakery owner agreed to hire Lisa almost immediately. Her first shift started the very next day, and Lisa couldn’t contain her excitement. It would only take a few months before she could buy her dream dress.
The First Months
For a little over three months, Lisa would run to the bakery as soon as she was done with school and start working the counter immediately. She would work until late in the evening and then wait for her mother to pick her up and drop her off at home.
Lisa would then start doing her homework for the next day. After an intense few months, Lisa’s savings were steadily growing, and she could almost feel the chiffon of her dream dress in her hands. The dream was near, she could feel it, and when she finally bought her dress, she would be so proud of herself.
The Day Arrived
After a grueling five months, Lisa counted her savings one night and realized she’d earned enough money to cover half of the cost of her dress. She screamed with joy and immediately ran downstairs to tell her mom the happy news.
Her mom was incredibly proud of her, and she promised to drive her to the shop the very next day so they could buy the dress. Lisa’s mom couldn’t have been prouder – her daughter had set her mind on something and had worked very hard to get it. Now it was time for her well-deserved reward, and her mother was happy she could be a part of it.
Getting the Dress
Lisa and her mom drove to the shop and were happy to find no one had bought it yet. Lisa immediately grabbed the dress and went into the dressing room to try it on. When she stepped out of the room her mom was in awe – her daughter looked beautiful, indeed like a princess in a fairytale.
She told Lisa that now she understood why she had fallen in love with that dress — because she looked so gorgeous that it truly looked like it was made just for her. Lisa was almost crying with happiness as she looked at herself in the mirror, and her mother was as proud as can be.
Cleaning the House
Every few weeks, Lisa and her siblings would take an afternoon to clean the entire house while their mom was at work. They knew their mother worked double shifts and was always tired, so the least they could do was help around the house.
A few days after Lisa and her mom bought her prom dress, Lisa and her siblings were doing a cleaning day at home. They usually split the house chores – one sibling would do the rooms, another would do the living room and the kitchen, and a third would do the laundry. This particular day, it was Lisa’s turn to do the laundry.
A Bad Decision
As Lisa got ready to do a big batch of laundry, she put on her favorite music and started her chores. She grabbed all the towels, linens, and dirty clothes bins in each of the rooms, and put them in the washing machine.
As she started the machine, she went back to her room, opened her closet to double-check if she’d missed anything, and suddenly saw her prom dress hanging there in all its beauty. The dress had been hanging in her closet for a few days, and it was probably clean from being at the store, but still, she had tried it on a few times and figured washing it wouldn’t hurt.
Disaster Strikes
Lisa finished doing all the laundry in the house and the washing machine was now empty, so she stuffed her prom dress inside the machine, closed the lid, and ran it. Lisa went on about her cleaning day while she waited for the dress to be done.
She dusted some shelves, cleaned some windows, organized the kitchen counter, and suddenly realized it was time to put her dress in the drier. As Lisa approached the washing machine, she realized the cycle had ended and she could safely open the lid. But what she saw left her breathless – her dress had been ruined!
What Was Left of the Dress
As Lisa pulled out her ruined dress from the washing machine, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Her beautiful chiffon dress was completely destroyed – wrinkled beyond recognition, ripped at the seams, pieces of chiffon flying about. There was no saving it.
Lisa broke out in tears; she couldn’t believe she hadn’t bothered to look at the tag with the washing instructions. She couldn’t believe she’d worked so hard for so long for her perfect prom dress just to destroy it in a matter of minutes. As she turned the dress’s tag to read the washing instructions, she realized the dress could only be washed by hand. It was already too late.
It’s Time to Call Mom
As Lisa grabbed her ruined dress in her arms, she fell to the floor sobbing and just curled up in a ball. She couldn’t speak, or get up, all she could do was cry and hold her beloved dress. One of her siblings heard her sobs from upstairs and came rushing down. When they realized what was happening, they ran to the phone and called their mother.
Lisa’s mom rushed home from work only to find Lisa still curled up on the floor crying her eyes out. Her mom sat beside her and asked her if she could see the dress, saying “Let me look at it, we will fix this.” But as she took a good look at the dress, she realized there was nothing to be done but throw it in the trash.
A Week Until Prom
As Lisa’s mom asked her what had happened, she told her she had the ridiculous idea to wash the dress and forgot to look at the tag with washing instructions. There was only a week left until prom and her dream dress had been completely ruined.
She would never find a dress like that again; she felt such despair that she burst into tears once again. Taking the dress back to the shop for a fix would cost more than the dress itself, so it wasn’t a viable option. Then, suddenly, Lisa’s mom thought of something that had completely escaped her until that moment. She had a solution!
Call Grandma
Lisa’s mom remembered that her own mother had worked as a seamstress in her younger years back in the day, and still remembered how to do it perfectly. Lisa called her grandma immediately and told her about the terrible incident and asked if she could help.
Her grandmother told Lisa to make a video call and show her the dress so she could better understand what kind of damage they were talking about. As Lisa held up her ruined dress in front of the camera, her grandma looked carefully and suddenly realized she had a better solution than trying to fix it.
A Brand New Dress
Lisa’s grandma suddenly said, “wait a minute!” and left the camera. As she stepped back into the frame, Lisa saw that her grandma was holding a sealed plastic cover that had an insane amount of dust and spiderwebs. As her grandma ripped the plastic open and uncovered what was inside, she told Lisa, “You will not believe what I have here!”
Lisa realized her grandma was holding a beautiful, blue chiffon prom dress. It was even more stunning than the dream dress Lisa had bought before. Lisa was breathless, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing, and her grandma just gave her a huge smile through the camera.
A 50-Year Relic
The dress that Lisa’s grandma pulled out of the carefully preserved package was the same she had worn on her prom night back in 1973. Lisa was looking at an actual vintage gown that had been stored for five decades. Her grandma’s voice started to break with tears of joy and nostalgia – “I never thought I’d take it out of its packaging again,” she said.
It was a very emotional moment for the three generations of women, and so Lisa immediately told her grandma that she would be honored to wear her dress to prom. Her grandmother lived two states away, but that didn’t stop her from catching the earliest flight to Lisa the very next day.
Lisa’s Grandma Arrives
Just as she had promised the day before, Lisa’s grandmother arrived early the next morning and Lisa and her mom, who had taken the day off from work, went to pick her up. The three ladies went home and gathered around Grandma’s dress as she took it out of the package. Lisa and her mom were taken aback once again by the sheer beauty of the dress.
They spent the whole day shopping for the right shoes and makeup colors to go with the dress. Since Lisa’s grandmother had been a seamstress when she was young, she adjusted a few measures so the gown would be a perfect fit for her granddaughter. Lisa looked even more beautiful than in her original ‘Cinderella’ dress.
Prom Night
After so much anticipation and preparation for months, the big day had finally arrived. It was prom night, and her mother and grandmother were there to help Lisa get ready and see her off for her special night. Lisa’s date arrived right on time, he gave her a beautiful corsage, which Lisa put on immediately and then her mother took a lovely photo in the living room.
The two teenagers walked towards the school and entered a magical world of pink and blue lights, sparkling decorations, a disco ball, and fairytale-themed ornaments everywhere. It couldn’t have been more perfect; Lisa truly felt like a princess as she walked into the party.
The Dance Started
As Lisa and her handsome date got some drinks and sat at their table to talk with their friends, a slow song started. It was one of Lisa’s favorite songs and her date knew it; he whisked her off her feet and asked her to the dancefloor. Lisa felt she was in a dream; the night was turning out to be exactly what she’d imagined.
As she and her date started dancing to the beautiful song, all their friends couldn’t help but stare at how gorgeous Lisa looked. As the song ended, Lisa and her date were already in the mood for some dancing, and so, as a faster track came on, they just tore up the dance floor.
The Perfect Night
Lisa’s prom night was turning out to be even better than she’d dreamed it would. Not only was this night a bittersweet reminder of one of the last times she and her high school friends would be together, but it also marked the end of an era as high school seniors.
It was turning out to be the happiest night of her life, and her dress couldn’t have looked more perfect – a classic vintage gown from the '70s, no less! She felt like she had stepped into a time capsule and traveled back to the groovy seventies as she danced around in her dress.
Something’s Wrong
Everything was going perfectly, and Lisa couldn’t have wished for a more magical prom night when suddenly, she felt something in her leg. It felt like a prick from a small pin, and Lisa just figured that maybe her grandma had forgotten to pull out one of her sewing pins when she was making adjustments to the dress. Lisa ignored it.
However, a few minutes later, a second, far more painful prick was felt by Lisa. This time, the pain made her scream, prompting her date and the friends she was with to inquire what had happened. Without hesitation, she excused herself and rushed over to the bathroom.
Something Was Hidden in the Stitching
After limping as fast as she could toward the bathroom, she finally pushed the door open and was relieved that no one else seemed to be there. Lisa placed one leg up in the sink so she could get a better view of where the pain was coming from. She bunched up her dress’s gorgeous chiffon skirt and she started to see something odd inside the fabric stitching.
As she tried to look closer, she realized there was a piece of paper sewn inside the dress’s seam. Lisa couldn’t possibly imagine what it was since it seemed like something somebody had hidden there on purpose – but then, she knew the only other person to ever wear that dress was her grandmother.
The Mysterious Envelope
Lisa had to find out what the hidden piece of paper was, so with as much care as possible, she ripped the small part of the fabric that was holding the paper to the seam. This took some effort and significant discomfort, but she had to find out what was going on.
As she took the paper out, she realized it was an old envelope, and as she grabbed it with her hand, she noticed it made a sound. Lisa shook the envelope and heard something jingling inside. Before opening it, Lisa felt like she had to take a moment to really think about what she was doing – should she leave the envelope as is and give it sealed to her grandmother? After all, it did belong to her.
Her Grandmother Just Tried to Help
After all her grandma had done for her, Lisa felt she owed it to her to at least think about what the right thing to do was. Here she was, wearing her grandma’s beloved prom dress from the '70s, and she had come across a secret that, clearly, her grandmother never wanted anyone to find.
It was thanks to her grandma’s sweet gesture of offering her the dress and making the big effort to fly it to her as soon as possible that she was able to even come to prom in the first place. After the debacle with her Cinderella dress, Lisa didn’t know what she would’ve done with her grandmother’s last-minute rescue.
A Very Close Family
Apart from this massive gesture of giving Lisa her prom dress, Lisa’s grandma had always been close to her family. Even though Lisa and her two siblings lived with their mother at a considerable distance from their grandparents, and so couldn’t visit often, they were a close family with a lot of love for each other.
Lisa’s grandparents, Magnolia and Erick, were two of the kindest people you could meet, and Lisa knew this. But she also knew there were many things she never knew about her grandparents’ personal lives, especially her grandma, who liked to keep her things to herself.
A Shocking Secret
So there Lisa stood, by the bathroom sink on her prom night, deciding whether she would unravel a big family secret. After a few minutes of serious pondering, curiosity got the best of Lisa and she just had to see what that envelope had inside. She tore it open, and an engagement ring fell into the sink.
As Lisa picked up the ring, she was more confused than ever, and so she realized there was something else inside the envelope. Lisa opened the envelope once more and pulled out an old, crumpled paper with some words written on it. As she smoothed out the paper, she began to read the words; Lisa was breathless, she didn’t know what to make of the note.
A Troubling Message
Lisa read the words more than once, just to make sure she was not dreaming, and alas, the words were as clear as possible. On the 50-year-old paper, handwritten words read “Magnolia Miller, will you marry me? -Henry Pritchett.”
Lisa’s grandfather was called Erick, so clearly, another man she or her family had never heard of had been madly in love with her grandmother when she was Lisa’s age. Lisa felt like she stumbled on a timeless memory from her grandmother’s past; she couldn’t believe the ring was still in the envelope. Her mind was exploding with questions.
So Many Questions
Lisa’s mind was spinning, she couldn’t make out what to think of all this – had her grandmother secretly been in love with Henry all these years and never said anything? Why would she have kept his ring and note otherwise?
Why would her grandmother hide the envelope so well – sewing it to the stitching of her dress – if it wasn’t incredibly important to her? Lisa’s grandmother had said herself that she stored that prom dress in 1973 and never opened the package since. Had she forgotten what she hid in it? Or was there a part of her that wanted her granddaughter to discover who she really was?
Hidden for Decades
Lisa started thinking about all kinds of stories in her head; she had no idea who her grandmother had been when she was young, or how many loves she’d had throughout her life. Maybe Henry Pritchett had been the love of her life and she thought about saying “yes” to him, but something happened, and they never got to be together.
Alternatively, maybe she wanted to say “yes” but turned him down because of other secret reasons, yet she stayed in love with him throughout the decades. So much so that she never really let go of that note or that ring.
Lisa Makes a Decision
As shocked as she was to discover such an intimate and secret part of her grandmother’s life, Lisa realized she wanted to get to know her family better. She was intrigued by the story behind this envelope and felt that her grandmother should have someone to tell it to.
She folded the note and put it back in the envelope with the ring, she stored it in her purse. Lisa had decided to go back out and enjoy the rest of her prom night because the next day she would have a talk with her grandmother. Without knowing it, Lisa unraveled a 50-year-old secret that was never meant to come out.
A Valuable Lesson
In the end, Lisa had a perfect prom night, more magical than she could have expected. But another important thing that came out of that night was Lisa’s realization that she wanted to get to know her family better. She had always loved her grandmother, but never took the time to really ask her about her life as a young woman.
And now more than ever, Lisa was sure her grandma had fascinating stories to tell. Without planning it, and due to a totally coincidental series of events, Lisa had gotten to know a part of her grandmother that probably nobody else did.
They say that happy families are all alike and that every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Now, let us add on to that — every family has its own dark, dirty little secret, and each secret is, well, revealed in its own unique way.
Reddit users from all over the world shared with us classified information about their relatives they were either told too late or had to find out on their own. Get ready to read stories that will make you appreciate how unexceptional your nutty family actually is.
Passing Judgment
We all have that one person in our family, the one who likes to judge and give advice no one asked for. You'd assume the person who feels so free to talk about other people's lives would at least be someone who makes sure they do everything right.
Well, there are expectations and then there's reality. Apparently, this person's aunt shouldn't be the one to talk about anybody's life... but she does.
Mysterious Money
Money, money, money, it makes the world go round, it must be funny in the rich's man world and so on and so forth. But, sometimes it can just be the only evidence left from an unsolved mystery. Such is the case in this story.
This family secret is so secretive, no living person knows the answer to it. When you don't know your mind can run wild and imagine the craziest things. Well, guess they can use all these coins to hire a private investigator, right?
Guess Our Secret Is Out?
Every family has a secret recipe, a meal so special that its formula has been passed down for generations, carefully kept and handed down. But what happens when you learn that the delicious dish you thought your grand-grandparents developed is as widely known as pizza, pasta, and croissants?
To his embarrassment, this guy had realized way too late, and in public, that he has been lied to his entire life. At least it was a funny family secret and not a bleak one.
Second Time's a Charm
Back in the day, people didn't use to discuss their past at length, especially if that past included a divorce. Before the new millennium, the word was considered dirty, illustrative of the divorcee's immorality.
Out of all the ways one could discover that their grama tied the knot with someone else before she met grandpa, an unfamiliar album in the attic has to be the best one. Imagine the grandkid's surprise!
Nanna, The Criminal
Two short sentences, yet we feel like a whole book could be written about this funny yet tragic family secret. Of course, a large portion of parenting is about protecting your children from knowing the harsh realities of adult life. Nanna going to jail is exactly the time to whip up your best fable.
But was fat camp really the greatest lie they could come up with? And why did grandma go to prison? Did she steal some hair dye or denture glue from the grocery store?
Out of Wedlock
Have we already mentioned people used to have different morals and rules about what is acceptable and what isn't? Some had to go to a great extent in order to hide what was perceived as a shameful occurrence in the past. Today this is just not that big of a deal.
Lying about your special day might prove problematic if those who attended the wedding remember the event. But hey, guess they wouldn't dare to suggest you got your own anniversary wrong!
All in the Family
We are not sure how to respond to this one, firstly, because of the weirdness of it all. Secondly, because of the sheer chance.
How has such a scheme lasted for so many different generations? Will it continue on forever and ever? Who be will the family's black sheep, that one person who'll choose to marry someone who isn't some type of relative?
Have You Heard of Confidentiality?
You'd expect a trained therapist to know how to keep a secret, right? Isn't confidentiality, like, the first thing they are taught at school? It should be!
Just like fight club, the first rule of therapy is that you don't talk about it, especially not to the patient's children! Luckily, this guy is just a marriage counselor and not an FBI agent.
Eloping Without Your Fiance
Looking back, we tend to think that life in past decades and centuries used to be a lot simpler. People were nicer, no one strayed, cheated, or caused unnecessary drama, right? Wait until you hear this juicy story about a great-great-grandma who didn't play by the rules!
The most awkward part, we think, is that the original fiance still had to attend family dinners with his brother and stolen bride. And you thought your get-togethers were awful!
Changing It Up
We are not sure what is the purpose of this practice. Is this some old family tradition we've never heard of? Are the girls in this family perpetually confused about who their actual parents are?
Honestly, while we can't fathom any benefits of giving your children away for a couple of years (or any reason why it would only be the girls), we do think this might make for a tight-knit family where everyone is as close as they could be.
Can't Take the Heat
Kids will believe almost anything you tell them and sometimes won't revisit the belief your lie created in their minds for years and years. Such was the case for this Reddit user, who was told at a young age it was smoking that had split his aunt and uncle up.
While we do have to admit that it can be very hard for a non-smoker to date someone who enjoys fuming, it is hardly a reason for divorce!
Stealing the Secret
This story isn't really about the actual secret, but about how to cunningly learn the family secret even though grandma tells it only to the married. (Preferential treatment, much?) Sure, we would have loved it if the person shared the actual recipe with us, but this story is priceless regardless.
We believe in equal rights, and everyone deserves the opportunity to try and make nanna's delicious cake.
The Secret Is a Secret
Just tell us! We're dying to know what the secret is, there's just one problem, it is still secret! Was this family member trying to tease and create a fight between this Reddit user and their mother? Or is there something more here?
This user must be the world's most incurious person, as they apparently just decided to pull an Elsa and let it go and never ask anyone anything. Well, they have been living with the uncertainty of not knowing what was hidden from them for over fifteen years, and it seems like they are fine with it.
Rockstar Dad
It's an age-old story, one we mostly encounter while watching outlandish TV shows with unbelievable plotlines. You find out your dad isn't actually your biological father. Instead, it is a glamorous rock star you've admired all your life!
Is this a dream come true, or a nightmare? Depends on the star, we guess. In this case, the actual child is still in the dark.
The Holy Grail of Secrets
Some users on Reddit just like joking around, which is what we assume this user is doing. Otherwise, he and his family are holding some valuable information. How have they maintained this knowledge?
Do they hold the Holy Grail at home, hidden in a safe behind a picture? Will we ever know the truth? No? The suspense is killing us, as this is one mystery everyone would love to solve.
'Tis I
While many chose to share information they have learned about their relatives way too late in life, this poster was herself the secret that was kept from everyone.
Both her conception and existence were kept so quietly that only nineteen years later when she contacted her mom, did everyone in her family finally find out about her, imagine that! How did the mom hide the pregnancy from all of her family members, though?
What Would Jesus Do?
Someone's baptism is a big day, not one they'd want to have overshadowed in any way. Well, this Reddit user had their thunder stolen by a fire! But, not only that, the fire was planned and executed by no other than the poster's family!
We are just speechless, though you do have to admit a baptism is one of the best alibis out there. But maybe, just maybe they should have asked themselves what would Jesus do? Well... not that.
The Old Lady Who Faked Her Own Death
This sentence could turn into a very successful book serious, "The Old Lady Who Faked Her Own Death," would fit right next to "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," don't you think?
We'd love to hear more details about this one. Why did she do it? How did she do it, and how did her relatives find out? All these questions will forever remain unanswered! One thing is for sure, it must have been a lot easier to fake your own death before cameras and traceable phones!
The Arson Uncle
It seems a lot of family secrets involve relatives engaging in criminal activities in one form or another. Do we really need to mention that arson is a felony?
It is always cool to learn that your family members are a part of history and were involved in events people study about in schools. We're assuming he was never caught, otherwise, it would have a different story entirely!
The Pianist
Many secrets are kept hidden because they are, or were shameful in some capacity, but keeping cool things that could have been inspiring as secrets? Not cool, grams!
Maybe the parents didn't want this kid to have what they'd call "unrealstic dreams" but, hey, if nanna did it, why couldn't this guy? All we're saying is, don't conceal cool facts about grandparents.
The Naked Truth
Being in public in your birthday suit could really get you into some unnecessary trouble. Still, many high school and college kids find showing off their hips, well, hip! (See what we did there?) What we didn't know is that the tradition of running around naked is as old as our great-great-grandmothers!
Could you imagine a good Christian girl doing something like that in church? No, huh? Well, they thought so too, which is why she was banished for life.
Puppy Love
We believe this is the type of family secret that could lead to some serious marital problems. Let's hope the mailman knows how to keep a secret. It is a long-known fact that some people just adore their pets, while their partners usually find themselves feeling like they were put on the back burner.
Imagine losing your wife to a dog named Chi-Chi for Christ's sake. It's a full-on tragicomedy at this point.
Dough for Days
Most of the things families chose to keep under cover tend to be on the morbid side, this story, on the other hand, makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside! Learning your ancestors had dough for days is cool enough, but learning they used it to promote a good cause, i.e. helping a public library? Perfection.
Seriously, could you imagine having enough extra cash to just be able to casually give away a couple of millions? Honestly, neither could we.
Butterscotch chips
Imagine this person's surprise when they learned they have been lied to for so long about such an important issue. It's very likely that their world crumbled into little butterscotch chips pieces.
If there's something we have learned in life it's that behind every renowned family recipe there's always a simple ingredient, one that can be found in every supermarket. The funniest part is that this person refused to eat anything made with butterscotch chips, thinking there's no way they'd enjoy it.
Oopsy, Your Secret's Out!
You know that saying about being careful with what you wish for? Well, apparently you should also be careful with what you joke about, cause it just might turn out to be true. What started as a fun, light joke turned out to be the one thing everyone in the family knew but the jester.
While an uncomfortable situation for those involved, it sounds like the type of thing they'd get to laugh about again someday. Or maybe just never mention it. It could go both ways.
The Adopted Dad
There's nothing like learning what drives people and makes them tick, what causes them to behave in one way and not another. We all know things that happened in our childhood have a huge impact on who we become later in life.
This is the case with this Reddit user's dad, who appreciates the kindness of his adoptive parents and wants to show the same love and care for animals and people alike.
Fourth Time's a Charm
They say marriage is for life, but this dad didn't get the memo, as it seems he has treated marriage like more of a sport. We get walking down the aisle and regretting it the first time, maybe we could even conceive of realizing it was a mistake the second time, but the third?
And then marrying again for the fourth time after all that disappointment? No wonder the groom's mother refused to show up, she probably ran out of "mother of the groom" dresses! What can we say? We're glad the last one lasted
Smoking Out the Secret
If there's one thing we are sure everyone hates equally it's gotta be being the last person to discover something. The more obvious the information was, the more oblivious and foolish the person who didn't know feels.
In regards to smoking, there are usually really clear tell-tale signs, the most apparent one being a certain smell that tends to linger. Well, this nanna must be an expert at keeping secrets and she'd make a great undercover agent.
Catfishing Your Kid
Boundaries. Sometimes it feels like large portions of the population have never heard anything about them. Our moms usually want what's best for us, but they tend to have some difficulties when it comes to learning the difference between being caring and being creepy.
This mom probably missed the day at school when they were learning about privacy, which resulted in her crossing the line and setting up the ground for a very awkward relationship with her kid.
Big Families, Small Towns
A small town or a big city? This is the type of question we all have to ask ourselves at one point or another. Some like busy urban environments while others prefer living in the countryside, where everything is green and quiet.
One reason as to why you might wanna go with living in a big city is that small places can prove to have a lot fewer options. Food and entertainment are something one could comprise on, marrying family members on the other hand...
Grandpa, Who Are You?
Confessions are dramatic by nature, but there isn't a more dramatic time to confess something than right before you're about to kick the bucket. If you're about to exit this world, at least make a show out of it!
A show with an open ending is always guaranteed to stay in our minds longer. What did that great great great grandfather do that justified creating a whole new identity? We hope the family figured it out.
Mother-Naked
We have all heard of the term "mother-naked" but we have never thought we'd have to think about that saying, well... literally.
This poor soul has had the misfortune of learning the thing that is passed down in his family isn't a tasty recipe or a useful skill, but rather the tendency to enjoy being in the nude around others. Listen, we don't judge, but also, we kinda do judge, you know?
Beyond the Grave
Funerals are never easy, but this Reddit user attended the world's most awkward, bizarre funeral, and it was his grandfather's! Imagine wanting to peacefully say goodbye to your beloved grandfather when all of a sudden, his second family shows up!
Discovering that someone is cheating and has another family never ends well, but what if you only find out about it after everything ended? It has to be the most inopportune time to find out.
The Coolest Nanna
We are sure your nanna, as well as ours, are angles that have no skeletons in the closet. Actually, we assume all grandmas are sweet old ladies who enjoy baking pies, sewing, and being with their grandchildren.
But this grandma has a different hobby altogether and it looks like her grandson approves of it. As long as her family is still proud of her, what else does she really need?
Brand Loyalty
Loyalty is a very important quality, one we all look for in partners and friends. But, we are not sure this girl's ancestor really got what it meant. Sure, he waited for each wife to pass before he moved on to one of her... family members... that's a sentence we never thought we'd find ourselves writing.
At least this Reddit user could find the humor in her family's weird history. And hey, it was back in the 1800s, so maybe this was cool back then? (It probably wasn't.)
The Mafia
Don't you just love it when someone manages to completely blow your mind in one single sentence? This is the type of hidden info that should not be taken lightly. We have all watched enough of "The Sopranos" to know we really, really don't want to mess with the mafia.
We hope, for this user's sake, that their relatives are on the mob's good side! We also hope they didn't find out about the mafia connection the hard way...
Family History
One of America's most important, proudest moments was when the Declaration of Independence was signed. Could you envision one of your very own founding fathers signing it? You know, that little document Mr. Thomas Jefferson wrote, no biggie.
Of course, everyone knows the best way we can all celebrate our independence today is by posting our opinions online. We are sure this person's ancestors would have been pleased with him.
As Bald as a Coot
While we would never judge anyone for figuring things a little bit too late, we thought it was common knowledge that at some point during their lives, most men lose their hair.
To the grandkid's defense, it seems like the grandfather was pretty good at hiding the truth, until one day he wasn't. But really think about it — the family's darkest secret? Grandpa is blad!
What Happens in Vegas
Vegas weddings are usually a bad idea. They are cheap, far from romantic, and mostly, probably done in secret, which isn't a good start for marriage if you ask us.
Honestly, up until now, we assumed Vegas wedding chapels only existed for teenagers who elope, but we guess there was one point in which everything spiritual idealistic grandparents wanted was for Elvis to wed them.
The Rodent Who Lived
During our childhood, we have all asked our parents for a dog. Most of them got us something lame instead, like a fish, or in this guy's case, a.. gerbil. When the pet passed away, we had a burial ceremony, in which we gave a nice eulogy and allowed everyone to say goodbye to Goldie the goldfish.
But this girl's mom and dad had a brilliant idea. Just replace the pet! Sadly, it seems they couldn't tell the difference between a hamster and a gerbil, a fact which definitely blew their cover.
The Silent Treatment
Communicating isn't the easiest thing to do, and sometimes, ironically, it becomes harder the longer you know a person. We all know at least one person or even were the person who just gave their significant other the silent treatment for a couple of hours to teach them a lesson.
Now, envision that method on a much, much, much larger scale and you get the above story. How did these two manage to go two decades in the same house without talking to each other?
23&Me
If you don't know what 23&me is, where have you been? It's one of these genetic testing companies that allow you to learn where your ancestors are from.
Many have already complained that the rise of ancestral examinations has actually made it a lot harder to keep family secrets. We bet their mom had a lot to explain. We wouldn't want to put ourselves in her shoes!
A Special Friend
As kids, we sometimes don't really understand things that seem obvious to adults. This can lead to hysterical situations, like with this little girl, who never understood why her aunt always got to bring a friend to family dinners while she couldn't.
Luckily no one actually has to spell this secret out for her, as when she was a teenager she finally put two and two together!
From Rags to Riches, to Nothing.
What's worse, to never have something in the first place, or knowing you almost had it all, just to have it taken away because of a technicality? The second one, duh!
A lot of the actions people try to keep undercover are cheating-related. Sure, deception isn't the most ethical thing to do, but really, great-great-grandma? Couldn't you have kept your transgression to yourself? This affair cost all of your offspring a lot of money.
A Foxy Nurse
There is a lot to unpack here, don't you think? Whether the fact that uncles sometimes go to these sleazy bars is a secret or not, that depends on the family. But if it was, well, it's the most unfortunate place to have an unexpected health issue in.
But, in a twist of fate, Mr. Uncle actually was lucky to be in that despicable place, as the kind lady who danced with him was also a nurse. Maybe there's a moral to this story, somewhere? Honestly, if there is we couldn't find it.
A Forgotten Secret
Is there any chance you'd forget whether you ever shared very secretive, crucial information with someone or not? Yeah, we wouldn't lose our memory about such a topic either, but Reddit users are here to prove anything can happen!
Having everyone learn your secret is one thing, misremembering if it was ever told is another. There really isn't a way out of this situation at this point.
CIA Grandad
Out of all the things one could learn about their father's father after they have already passed this is one of the most thrilling ones. Who wouldn't enjoy learning they had their own version of James Bond in the family?
Sure, the signs were always there, but it's not every day that you get your little conspiracy theory confirmed by government documents! We think CIA grandad would make for a great TV show.
Mom's Little Helper
Being a perfect housewife is hard. No, scratch that, being any type of housewife, perfect or otherwise, is really, really, hard. We really do understand why sometimes (or always) moms would just prefer to serve a pre-made meal.
How ironic that the kids enjoyed the boxed meal a lot more than the mother actually expected? This just proves there really isn't any point in cooking, especially for children.
The Other Woman
When we're young we think our parents and grandparents are perfect, moral humans who couldn't hurt a fly. Then we grow up and we learn that grandparents are people too and they can engage in shady behavior as if they were silly little teenagers.
Up until now, we thought the safest thing was to keep affairs on the down-low, not to have them come to family functions. Somehow, they did manage to keep it a secret for over 20 years. So... good for them, we guess?
Bad Credit
Being married is not a picnic, but an obstacle course. One obstacle could be falling for someone who, god forbid, has really really bad credit. Such was the case with this user's dad.
His parents were not going to let that stop them from buying a house, so they got a divorce and stayed together until they did. At which point they were already divorced! Are you following? It was hard for us to grasp too.
Two Peas in a Pod
If there was ever an ingenious plan as to how to have an extra-marital affair, this must be it. Cheating with your partner's identical twin can prove to be handy in several different ways.
Firstly, one can always pretend to be so clueless that they didn't notice it was the twin they were hanging out with all along. Also, if the twins share the same DNA, would it even be possible to prove which one is the actual father?
A Sweet Secret
Most family secrets seem to be on the dark side. Someone did something behind someone's back and years later a family member finds out by mistake and everyone's life is ruined.
Not this one, here the secret was kept due to modesty and humility, and not because of shame and guilt. There's nothing sweeter than realizing your grandfather spent his entire life anonymously giving to others.
Hidden in Plain Sight
As far as reasons to be away from home go, a career in the military is one that usually makes family members proud. This means that the U.S Army can actually be used as a great excuse hiding the real reason as to why a family member hasn't come home in a year.
But there's another secret hidden in plain sight - what was he even arrested for?
A Gold Mine
A mystery within a mystery within a mystery! How did grandpa get all of the silver and gold in the first place? Was he involved in some shady business, or did he just want to keep some of his assets out of the bank?
Where exactly did he hide them? And most importantly, who were the family members who found the secret stash first and took all the inheritance for themselves? We wish we could be there to hear the rest of this story unfold.
A Win-Win Situation
Many parents say that the day their first kid was born was the happiest day of their lives. Now, picture this: the day you welcome your first kid into your life is also the same day you welcome your first grandkid. Sounds impossible? While it is insane, it is actually possible!
This grandpa didn't even know he had a daughter until she came by to introduce his grandkid. He gained them both on the same day.
The Point of No Return
Our parents usually want what's best for us. When they disapprove of something we do, it can be hard to follow through with it. This is especially true when it comes to choosing life partners. Marrying someone your parents openly dislike can be complicated.
Still, it doesn't get more complicated than having your own parents try to get you to be left at the altar. We really can't see how a parent-kid relationship can recover from that.
We Were On a Break!
There's nothing more unlucky than realizing that a one-night fling you never told your wife about (you were on a break!) ended up in a pregnancy.
Oh no, wait, there is something more unfortunate - having your wife and kids find out the whole thing. Will this Reddit poster ever get to meet his half-brother? If it's up to his father, probably not.
Sweet Vengeance
They say revenge is a dish best served cold, but it sounds like this act of revenge had to be pretty steamy. This one was a double whammy, a two-in-one if you like. Not only did he get back at his wife, he also got back at the man who facilitated his wife's infidelity.
This probably wasn't the way to rehabilitate the marriage, but it doesn't sound like this is what the grandfather was looking for.
There's No Law Against It
We have all heard stories about people getting married for very practical reasons, and it usually sounds like a bad choice.
Needing a legal way to stay in the country, this person's mom asked a man she had only known for one week to marry her. He agreed, and then ended up falling in love. Kinda sound like a plot for a Netflix Rom-Com. We'd definitely watch it.
Good Things Come at a Price
They say that having children is one of the most fulfilling things a person could do. They also say it is one of the most expensive things a person could do. Parents usually have to spend an insane amount of money just to make sure their offspring is fed, happy, and healthy.
But, when you promise your child a college fund, you better deliver. In this case, the parents delivered a total of $148.74, which isn't much of a fund, isn't it?
The Black Sheep of the Family
There's a lot to unpack here. We can't be exactly sure what the times were like when this person's great-great-grandfather was alive. Maybe resorting to sheep-stealing was the only way to survive back then.
But you gotta know how to do it. Getting caught and completely banned from Missouri? This ancestor sounds like an amateur. Luckily, it doesn't like getting banned from this specific state is much of a loss.
Thank the Troops
Troops do a lot for their country, they put their lives at risk in order to protect others. In this case, the troops took it a step further and helped an orphaned baby.
But, that didn't stop there, the guys kept in touch with the kid and helped him in any way possible. This is such a sweet heartwarming story to hear about your very own uncle. Probably made his family very proud.
OBG Why Not?
Affairs happen. Sometimes it is with the next-door neighbor or the milkman. We have also heard of having affairs with your partner's sibling or best first. But the OBGYN who's delivering your first child?
That must be an anomaly, right? But what if it isn't? We really don't want to go there. We at least hope that love letters were fun to read.
The Fried Chicken Family
When you think of fried chicken, you think of KFC. That's how strong this brand is. This Kentucky resident learned that his great-great-uncle was the person who founded this delicious fast-food restaurant.
Not only that, since it was discovered, it is no longer a buried, hidden, secret but a source of pride! Imagine the look on peoples' faces when they are told the person standing in front of them is related to Colonel Sanders.
Luck of the Draw
Having a mysterious person paying your college tuition is the type of thing they write novels about. Usually, there's only one conclusion to be drawn from such a situation, someone was doing the dirty with someone else, which resulted in a lovechild. But this story is far more interesting than that.
This Reddit poster's grandpa was a bookie who played his cards right and got Mr. Tony to pay for his grandson's education.
Driving The Drinks
It can sometimes be hard to remember that our grandparents were literally a part of history. This grandma was into alcohol before it was even cool, or well, legal! That got her in some trouble that resulted in a license suspension.
But would she admit to what she's done to get it back? Never! Who needs driving anyway? We bet this gal has already driven enough for a lifetime. After having her fair share of police chases, she probably just wants to rest, you know?
Not So Native
Like many secrets today, this one was released not because of a heartfelt confession, but because of a DNA test. In the past people got them to learn important medical information, today we take them for fun! Boy, how times have changed!
We have questions, so many questions. Like who was the person who told this Reddit poster that their great-grandma was Cherokee? Was it something she herself liked to tell people? How could she have lied like that?
Family History
There's nothing a kid finds more enticing than imagining some unknown relative of theirs is or was an excellent athlete who won fame and broke records.
When this boy had to do a genogram for school, an all-around boring task, he found out one of the coolest things one could find -- his first cousin was a star footballer who has had his fair share of accomplishments!
So Many Siblings
Families can come in all different shapes and forms. Some are as small as two humans and a dog, or a human and five cats (we don't judge!) while others could be as big as a tribe of 30.
When it comes to this bizarre family secret, we are not sure what's more upsetting: the number of siblings the grandfather has or the fact that 11 of them were a result of a father having an affair with his son's girlfriend. We bet family dinners get really awkward for them.
Dating Eminem's Dad
You didn't expect us to get through this list without mentioning at least some type of celebrity right? Usually, anonymous people who have dated celebrities love talking about it.
But here it is the grandmother who dated Eminem's father, back when the two were in school. Spells old news to us, you know? But some families really need a secret, even if it's kind of mundane.
A Salty Story
This Reddit user has been using Morton Salt their entire life, and have never once suspected of the secret history their family has with the brand.
Sure, there's no way of proving that this story is actually true, this means you might want to take this one with a grain of salt. This kind of contest seems to be a win for the brand, which probably secured the family's loyal without having to pay royalties.
Not Your Father
This started out simple: A rebellious teenager felt like they didn't belong. We've all been there, we've all heard it. But this story takes a turn towards the scandalous.
When the 12-year exclaimed that it feels like their father isn't actually their father, the grandma decided to put the cards on the table and admit that it's true! Who would have thought that such a mundane exchange would result in such a revelation?
The Raccoon that Could
This one isn't strictly a secret, but more of an ongoing misunderstanding that has to lead this poor person to believe that their childhood raccoon had died prematurely.
But, the dad was not using any fancy metaphors but was actually delivering the truth. How rare! This truth went over the kid's head, but years later, she got to learn what actually happened to her beloved raccoon.
Something to Write Home About
Family secrets are called so for a reason, most people wish to keep them hidden from both family members and the entire world. But this sneaky grandpa wanted to air all of his dirty laundry outside.
So he did, in the form of a novel that he published. Now anyone and everyone could read about the couple's messy divorce, including the poor children and grandchildren, who've probably realized that some secrets should be kept that way.
A New Identity
Imagine thinking you were of one origin and then learning you were of a different one entirely. This is what happened to this Reddit user, who took a DNA test and learned of his Jewish descent.
But that was just the beginning, he, later on, learned everything about his grandfather's past, and about all of the things he was willing to sacrifice in order to achieve the American dream.
A Family Feud
If you know anyone who has ever gotten a divorce or been through a breakup, you know these can get really messy. So messy that people who once loved each other and vowed to always stay together can end up having heated, petty arguments about who is going to get the sofa. But, maybe it is even worse for those who can't or won't get a divorce.
They might find themselves trying all sorts of creative ways to get their partners out of their lives.
Three's a Crowd
What would you say, is this uncle commitment-phobic, or maybe he's actually a commitment enthusiast? So committed to the institute of marriage that one just wasn't enough for him.
The revelation of this secret got the uncle in serious trouble, none of his children wanted to talk to him, or to each other. Sounds like he bit off a tad more than he could chew.
Water Can Be Thicker than Blood
There's a special place in heaven reserved for men and women who take in children who aren't they own as if they were. In this case, the grandfather did it in order to save the child.
Not only was he kind, but also humble, not telling anyone that the kid is not his child. This story shows that sometimes a choice to be there for someone can be stronger than a biological connection.
Breaking the Bank
We thought the bank robbers only existed in the movies, but this guy learned that his ancestors were real-life rebels who stormed banks in their free time.
There's a great chance he even has some money-taking skills in him that he is yet to discover. But alas, since all of the crooks of the family have already passed away, this guy will have to figure it out all on his own.