A concerned grandmother noticed her middle grandchild grew up looking different from her siblings. She decided to get her granddaughter a DNA test kit, and the results shocked her.
A woman’s grandchildren grew up on the other side of the country, so she never really got to see them grow up. The first time she met her middle grandchild, Lindsey, was when the child was already six months old.
Through the years, she noticed how different Lindsey looked compared to her siblings. It confused her that Lindsey had curly blonde hair while everybody else had dark hair.
Why Did Her Granddaughter’s Appearance Differ from Her Siblings?
The concerned grandmother shared her story on Reddit, hoping to get clarity on whether she was right to help her granddaughter get to the bottom of her heritage. Initially, she thought their family genetics were just deeper than she’d imagined, and she loved her granddaughter regardless.
One day, the woman discovered that Lindsey’s parents banned her from getting an ancestry test. The woman scolded her son and daughter-in-law for it, saying the young girl deserved to know the truth about her birth.
Ultimately, her son and daughter-in-law denied there was anything fishy regarding Lindsey’s birth. They asked the woman to leave, and that was the end of the story.
To their surprise, the DNA test results showed something fishy about her lineage.
However, now that Lindsey’s in high school, questions continue to fill her head regarding her birth. She went to her biology teacher, and the teacher told her that it was odd for her to have traits that her siblings or parents didn’t have.
What Secret Did the DNA Test Uncover?
Distressed, Lindsey ran to her grandmother, asking her to buy a DNA test. Concerned about her granddaughter, she purchased the test for her without telling her children.
Lindsey did all the work and took the DNA test after her grandmother handed it to her. To their surprise, the DNA test results showed something fishy about her lineage.
Results showed that Lindsey and her siblings didn’t share a mother. “My son got someone else pregnant and her [biological] mom gave her up,” the grandmother revealed.
The revelation wreaked havoc on the entire family. The woman’s son and daughter-in-law were furious, while Lindsey was equally mad at her parents for being lied to for fifteen years.
The woman’s children refuse to talk to her, and their non-communication has made Lindsey even more angry. While the grandmother had good intentions, she now wonders whether she was wrong for igniting this storm.
People on Reddit assured the woman that she did nothing wrong. To them, the people to blame were her son and daughter-in-law.
“There are medical reasons a person might need to know what their genetics are/are not and if you hadn’t helped her she would have found out some other way[sic],” one person argued.
“Guaranteed she was going to find this out in 3 years anyway. At least this way, she knows that someone [in] her family is more concerned about her mental health and well-being than their own,” another added.
“There are legitimate, tangible, life-&-death reasons for knowing your genetics. Lindsey absolutely deserves to know the truth. This overrides her parents’ desire to pretend everything is fine & dandy,” one shared.
People share the same sentiments that the heat wasn’t supposed to be on the grandmother but on the parents for hiding something so critical. They felt the young woman had the right to know about her own background, and her grandmother helped her uncover the truth.
Do you think the grandmother was wrong for buying the DNA test? What would you have done if you were in her situation?
Here’s What a Handshake Symbol on a Parking Space Means
Life is everchanging. It seems to become more chaotic the older we get and the more industrialized we as a society become. So, going into stores or malls isn’t as feasible as it once was. Consequently, online shopping has become more common, and in many cases, is the new normal.
Although online shopping is much more convenient, there are some downsides including the possibility of not getting exactly what you thought you were buying. Additionally, more intense downsides exist, such as safety concerns. To combat some of these concerns and ensure safety, Pembroke, Ontario, a small city in Canada, is using a handshake symbol as a new solution to ensure safety. Their idea, while unconventional, could prove to ensure the safety of thousands of shoppers. If proven successful, Pembroke may transform the way people undertake online shopping.
Handshake Symbols Represent Safety
A handshake symbol is showing up in parking spaces all over the city. Pembroke’s police department, Pembroke OPP, gave a statement regarding the new handshake symbol parking spots. “The purpose of Project Safe Trade is to create a ‘community safety zone’ at an OPP detachment parking lot to facilitate online property transactions,” the OPP said in the news release. “Creating a ‘community safety zone’ is about moving online transactions away from secluded parking lots, personal residences or other areas and bringing them to a public place.”
Parameters of the Project
Amazingly, the handshake symbol spots, called “safe trade spots,” will be available 24 hours a day and will not require appointments. The way these spots work is simple. If you’ve purchased something online but have to pick it up, or pay, in person, the handshake symbol spots become a neutral meeting point. It’s important to note these spots will not be monitored 24 hours a day. This means there will be no police intervention, such as mediation or witnessing a transaction. In contrast, they will have available officers on the scene if a call or complaint is made to the city regarding a criminal matter. The area will be well-lit and conveniently located just off the highway.
Holiday Shopping
With the holidays upon us, things become even more hectic, and people often stop looking into all the transaction details. The handshake symbol spots have been developed in tandem with the holidays. Steph Neufeld, the safety unit’s captain, says, “The local launch of Project Safe Trade comes at an ideal time with the busy holiday season upon us. Online property transactions are ever-increasing and the UOV OPP is proud to be launching a community safety initiative aimed at decreasing offences related to online marketplace transactions,” He continues in the statement, “Collaborative approaches like Project Safe Trade can help to reduce harm and victimization in our communities.”
Going Beyond the Handshake Symbol
The handshake symbol parking lots are a great start, but there is more the city has incorporated into the project. In particular, one Canadian resident and professional. Carmi Levy, a technology analyst, offers helpful hints. While seemingly obvious, they can be forgotten during an overwhelming time like the holidays.
Levy said, “Do your due diligence on the person that claims to be selling it. Look into their background, see what other things they’ve sold, look for information on how other buyers have dealt with them in the past.” Also suggesting people, “Insist on seeing the actual device that you’re buying before you hand over any money. Insist that they power it on. Insist that you make sure it works before you pay for it.” This is a great way to avoid being scammed and wasting your hard-earned money on something that just isn’t worth it.
Other Safety Suggestions
Other recommendations include going with someone you know and trust when engaging in online transactions. Save all interactions between buyer and seller, this includes voicemails, emails, or text messages. Additionally, shopping apps like ‘OfferUp’ and ‘LetGo’ tell you they won’t reach out for personal information. They suggest you use caution when doling out personal information with limited or only necessary information.
Furthermore, they suggest that you have those conversations strictly in the app. This ensures the conversation is logged in a secure environment so you can avoid giving your personal information to a stranger. For Canadian residents, specific to the Pembroke area, seeking handshake symbol parking lots can keep citizens safe this holiday season. Moreover, they can help bring higher levels of safety in years to come.
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