re: Is anyone here adopted?

My sister is actually my 1st cousin and 16 years younger than me. It was my aunt's 2nd child that she gave up, but my parents adopted her. It was kept a secret, until it eventually came out, after my aunt passed away. It was hard on my sister/cousin, because she thought she could have had a different relationship with her "aunt". Truth is, my aunt had no desire to be a mother.

Years ago, the wife of the 1st baby my aunt gave up contacted our family. He was never told he was adopted and after his adoptive parents passed, he and his wife found the adoption papers. Ironically, he was born in LA, but ended up in MO, where all of my mom's family lives. My mom, dad and my "sister" (his 1/2 sister) went to visit them. As I understand, he was not overly enthusiastic about meeting these complete strangers.

I didn't find out that my dad wasn't my bio father until I was about 11. Funny thing, it was my aunt who told me. I understand adults keeping quiet about these things, but I felt betrayed by my mom. Honesty would not have changed how I felt about my dad. My mom's dishonesty changed how I felt about her.