Family Surprise
I found out yesterday that my Uncle Chris, who passed away in the late 1990's, had a son that was given up for adoption. When I was younger, I remember someone telling me they thought he had had a kid, but nobody in the family seemed to know anything about it when I asked.
My mom and her brother both seemed completely shocked by the news, so maybe the person who told me about it was a parent of one of my friends. Lots of my friends' parents either went to High School with my mom or one of her brothers. Still, if one of their parents knew, how is it that I'm the only one in my family who had heard anything about it?
I don't know his name, but I've heard he wants to meet us. I 'd like to meet him. But I don't really know what to say if he starts asking about his dad. When we were in elementary school and Jr. High, he was a really fun uncle who took us to the lake in the summer, bought us Christmas gifts that my parents couldn't afford, totally doted on us. His son is only a year or two older than us. Would he want to know that stuff? I think I'd feel bad knowing my dad gave so much to other kids, but didn't want me.
Also, Uncle Chris was an alcoholic with, I assume from his behavior, really big depression issues. He spent most of the last half of his life living with my Grandmother and drinking heavily. The last few years before he got lung cancer were decent for him. He dated some, and was starting to pull his life together. It was beyond sad that cancer took over right when he was finding some happiness.
I really do want to meet him, but I'm really not sure what to say. How honest would you want someone to be if you were in his shoes?
My mom and her brother both seemed completely shocked by the news, so maybe the person who told me about it was a parent of one of my friends. Lots of my friends' parents either went to High School with my mom or one of her brothers. Still, if one of their parents knew, how is it that I'm the only one in my family who had heard anything about it?
I don't know his name, but I've heard he wants to meet us. I 'd like to meet him. But I don't really know what to say if he starts asking about his dad. When we were in elementary school and Jr. High, he was a really fun uncle who took us to the lake in the summer, bought us Christmas gifts that my parents couldn't afford, totally doted on us. His son is only a year or two older than us. Would he want to know that stuff? I think I'd feel bad knowing my dad gave so much to other kids, but didn't want me.
Also, Uncle Chris was an alcoholic with, I assume from his behavior, really big depression issues. He spent most of the last half of his life living with my Grandmother and drinking heavily. The last few years before he got lung cancer were decent for him. He dated some, and was starting to pull his life together. It was beyond sad that cancer took over right when he was finding some happiness.
I really do want to meet him, but I'm really not sure what to say. How honest would you want someone to be if you were in his shoes?