Did you discover your much older “sister” is really your mother and your “parents” are actually your grandparents?

“Family secret” is another way to say huge lie that everyone knows except the person who needs to know the most. In American culture a lie is not considered a lie if it is concocted for the greater good–meaning it spares the liars perceived public shame. Isn’t family “secret” more palatable than family “lie”? But I understand now that sometimes truth is so painful the only thing a person can think to do is pretend not to know.