Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Parents Confess Which Secrets They'll Never Tell Their Child About

Parents Confess Which Secrets They'll Never Tell Their Child About

Redditor joyjoy12354 likely had one of those somber and introspective sort of nights when they reached out to the online community and asked: "Parents of Reddit, what is the secret about you that you will never tell your child?"

When you hear––or shall we say read––some of these, you'll completely understand why. Some things are just easier said than done.



"That my daughter..."

Giphy

That my daughter was conceived in the backseat of my 2001 Grand Am to Metallica after a Halloween party.

gil_beard

"That when my wife..."

That when my wife was pregnant with our third, she initially wanted to give her up for adoption and I refused. Even though we're divorced now, still never going to tell my child that.

MatabiTheMagnificent

"That because of them..."

Giphy

That because of them I left behind our entire extended family. It took me becoming a parent and having this ferocious need to protect them and do right by them to alienate every single soul I have ever known.

I was brought up in a casually abusive family. Not getting cigarettes put out on my arm, but constant, daily small abuses that accumulated to make me a complete human door mat. I didn't feel a spark of fight until the first couple times jabs were made towards my first daughter.

Eventually, after trying everything, including direct confrontations that caused me absolute terror to do, I broke away. My daughters will lead a very small life with family, and times like this with holidays looming it is hard. It is hard not to drive back and visit, knowing there are people who I have relation with in the world who would welcome us back, but I know the cost and I won't make abuse a normal way of life for my girls.

So we stay alone, and I wish I had more of a community to offer them than just myself, but I strive for quality over quantity for them now. As far as they know now though, they have no idea we had this whole family that is now far behind us. Someday I'll tell them the truth, but for now I think it's better that they don't long for the idealized version of these people.

Onceaweekly

"That I walked out..."

That I walked out of an abortion clinic still pregnant after filling out the paperwork and having the ultrasound. I just couldn't do it. We now have three kids and I've never regretted keeping him.

CatSpecificTuna

"That I never wanted kids..."

That I never wanted kids or to be married. I planned on dying before I turned 18. Had a kid at 17. Have since had 3 more & have been married to the greatest man on this planet since 2006.

ImNotHippolyta

"The poverty..."

Giphy

The poverty and crappy parental life decisions I grew up with. I want them to have a chance of a relationship with at least my mum, if not my dad.

humanhedgehog

"That I am their parent."

That I am their parent. I fathered a child with a much older woman when I was 16. The woman didn't tell me she had gotten pregnant until the child was 17. I went to meet this person that was apparently my child and she was happy and believed that another man was her father. So I stepped back and didn't interfere.

Pellehard1666

"I've been arrested."

I've been arrested. Not a proud moment as a mother. It was a DUI 6 or 7 years ago.

I don't drink anymore.

I was also not planning on telling them that I smoked cigarettes in the past. My husband went and blabbed that one

_no_sleep_4_me

"I know why..."

Giphy

I'm afraid of the dark. I know why, has to do with childhood stuff. But a child wouldn't understand why their mother is afraid of the dark while telling them not to be.

UnluckyResponse

"I was in the Navy..."

That I had to give up my career (and a huge bonus) for them.

I was in the Navy in the nuclear field. I had an anxiety attack about giving my oldest (and at that time only) child up so I could go to training. I was damn good at my job, and on track for a $90k bonus if I had stayed. I left for him and had another son shortly after. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but I often wonder where I'd be if I had stayed.

SrirachaKo

More from People

Tammy Duckworth; Pete Hegseth
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Dem Senator Gives Hegseth Mic Drop Reminder After He Waffles On Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth clashed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by sharing a screenshot of him covering Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Fox News in 2022 to call him out after he refused to "characterize" what happened.

Earlier this month, Hegseth reaffirmed his stance on the terms of a potential Ukraine-Russia peace deal, stating that his role was to "introduce realism to the conversation."

Keep ReadingShow less
man, woman, and child walking together along dirt road
Alberto Casetta on Unsplash

People Share Their Best 'My Parent Is An Idiot!' Experiences

I'm loathe to label anyone as dumb, but I will admit some people make less than logical choices.

And some of those people have procreated. It's difficult sometimes to admit our parents are less than perfect.

Keep ReadingShow less
A collection of laptops around a table
people sitting down near table with assorted laptop computers
Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash

People Explain Which Things They Refuse To Do Anymore Due To A Past Job

There is something to be gained from all experiences, good and bad.

This includes a former job we once had, that we make every effort to forget we ever worked.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Melanie Stansbury and Marjorie Taylor Greene
@Acyn/X

MTG Dragged For Accusing Dem Rep Of ‘Threatening’ Trump With Fiery U.S. History Lesson

Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was criticized after attacking her colleague, New Mexico Democrat Melanie Stansbury, by warning her about "threats" against President Donald Trump.

Greene's confrontation with Stansbury came amid criticisms of a recent White House post declaring "LONG LIVE THE KING" after the Trump administration struck down a congestion pricing initiative in New York.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jon Stewart; Elon Musk
The Daily Show; Alex Wong/Getty Images

Musk Says He's Open To Facing Jon Stewart On 'The Daily Show'—And Fans Have The Perfect GIF Reaction

Billionaire Elon Musk raised eyebrows after he was challenged to go on The Daily Show and talk about DOGE with host Jon Stewart and said he'd do it—but only "if the show airs unedited."

Musk made the announcement after Stewart spent part of his recent program criticizing DOGE's drastic federal spending cuts, a speech that caught the attention of the account @FarzadMedia, which then shared a lengthy video post titled “Elon Musk Should Go On Jon Stewart’s Daily Show."

Keep ReadingShow less