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I feel really hurt and confused about why my dad would keep something this important from me

User Profile: Myroslava
Myroslava July 25th

Trigger warning: death/loss/grief/serious illness

Hi! 💖 The story that I am about to tell involves the death of a family member due to a serious illness. If this is a sensitive or triggering topic for you, please feel free to stop reading at any time! 

My parents have always made a big emphasis on full transparency and being honest with them about everything that's going on in my life. Lying - even lying by omission - was not tolerated when I was growing up. When it came to me, the concept of "this is something very personal or embarrassing that I would rather not share" did not exist when I was a child. 

When I got older, I started to notice inconsistencies - my parents were definitely not returning the same full transparency. There were secrets they kept from me and from each other. There were secrets that my mom kept from my dad. There were even more secrets that my dad and my grandmother kept from my mom. We all lived together (my parents are not divorced), but after I spent a day with my dad and my grandmother, I was expected to not say a word about it. I was not allowed to re-tell where we went, what we did, what we saw, etc. Saying anything - even something as innocent as "my grandma got really cute new shoes!" - was a potential reason for my dad and grandma to call me a "loose-lipped idiot who cannot be trusted."

A few years ago, my parents and I moved and my grandma stayed behind. She and I only saw each other during Skype calls after that. Three years ago, my grandma and I got into a seemingly minor argument, but she got really upset with me, accused me of being disrespectful to her on the most difficult day, and hung up on me. I had called her many times, wrote at least five messages telling her that I had no idea that she was having a difficult day, and that I am genuinely sorry for anything I said that may have come across as disrespectful because I never meant to be rude. I wrote her two letters in 2022 as well, due to some current events and because I was worried about her safety. She has ignored all of my attempts to reach out, but continued to talk to my dad. 

Two years ago, I was told that my grandma was dead. My dad told me that she had a heart attack and because she lived alone, no one had been able to call an ambulance in time. He had told my mom the same thing. I hadn't been able to go to a memorial service for her due to previously mentioned current events (I'm doing my best to keep politics out of this), which made my already existing feelings of grief that much more complicated. Two days ago, I found out from my mom (who found out from a friend who helped with my grandma's memorial service in our absence) that she never had a heart attack and that she really died from cancer. 

I'm having a really difficult time with processing all of this. I feel hurt that my dad would lie to me - if I was old enough to understand what a heart attack is, I was old enough to understand what cancer is. Why would he lie to me? What was the point? But what's even worse is, this wasn't something sudden that no one was prepared for. He knew that she had cancer (he admitted it). She knew that she had cancer. They both knew that it was terminal. And not one of them has thought to tell me, to at least let me say goodbye. I am just really struggling right now!

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User Profile: blitheSun94
blitheSun94 July 26th

@Myroslava

Hi, Myros,

Thank you for using a trigger warning.

Thank you for your very well-written post. You are certainly experiencing a profound sense of grief made more complex by the deceit surrounding your grandmother's passing. Sadly, this happened in my own family. My grandfather passed away in 2009 for reasons I won't list here, but my mother lied to the younger children about what actually happened. I warned her this would backfire later in life and boy did it ever. I think it's very important to have honest, transparent, candid conversations with your children about real and painful things. I am so sorry that you have to experience an added layer of grief during this time. 

Try to keep in mind that even though you grandmother has passed, and maybe you didn't get to say everything you wanted or needed to, it's never too late and you can still talk with her now. I have very firm boundaries with my father and my biggest fear is that he will pass before we come to resolution. That said, it's also important to give yourself grace and remember the painful healing of boundaries. I found that writing a letter helped.

Additional Resources:

I know there isn't much I can do or say to help, other than to say you are not alone. 

💞

User Profile: Tinywhisper11
Tinywhisper11 July 26th

@Myroslava awww I'm sorry sweetie 😥 you must feel very confused and hurt about why your dad lied about this, and why your grandma and you didn't get chance to say goodbye😞 it's a very sad situation, bless you. I know your probably angry at all the lies and having to not say anything when you went out with your grandma and dad. But maybe there's something missing here, maybe one day having a adult heart to heart conversation with your dad, might clear up some things in your mind ❤ in sorry things turned out this way, hugs you tightly ❤ I'm always here for you, we all are ❤

User Profile: toughTiger6481
toughTiger6481 July 27th

@Myroslava

Have you asked him?    perhaps he thought if you thought it was sudden it would be easier and you did not feel bad for not visiting her while the cancer was getting worse. 

Some people if they are diagnosis with a terminal condition do not want many to know.... maybe your grandmother did not want that. many who are diagnosed do not want pity and people wanting to see them as they waste away but want to be remembered differently. 

i can see many scenarios in my mind but the added confusion can come from you feeling that honesty was one sided requirement as they are not honest with you.... have you spoke up about that to your parents? 


User Profile: akunknown
akunknown July 27th

@Myroslava

I can’t speak for your dad but sometimes people keep things from others to protect them as one way of showing they care for them even if they don’t need or want anything to be kept from them. This might be why he kept things from you - to protect you from the pain or hurt you’d be living with if he did tell you everything he decided to keep from you. 

You can also ask him directly when you’re ready to. 

I’m sorry for your loss(es). Condolences to you and everyone in your life. ❤️❤️❤️