Ask Amy: My family now gone, Iâm not ready for ânewâ sister
Dear Amy: I lost both my parents a day apart two years ago.
Two years before that, my older sister died. She was 11 years older than me.
My sister was my biggest supporter, and was like a second mom. She was a half-sister, but … we were just sisters. I also have two half-brothers 13 and 14 years older, but I’m not as close to them as I was to my sister.
These siblings are all from my mom’s first husband, who died of cancer before I was born.
My dad basically raised my older half-siblings from the time they were very young.
A few months after my parents died, I got a message from a DNA site that I have a half-sister.
My dad was in the army and always joked I could have half-siblings somewhere.
The problem is that I don’t want to acknowledge or meet this sister.
I feel bad, but to me, I am my dad’s only child.
I was raised pretty much as an only child, because my siblings were much older.
I took this DNA test to see my heritage, not even thinking that it could spark a sibling somewhere.
This has totally wrecked my life. This sister keeps messaging me and I’ve blocked her on social media.
I don’t even want her to see pictures of my family. I feel I can’t even post pictures on Facebook for fear she’ll see them.
Am I being selfish?
– DNA Gone Wrong
Dear Gone Wrong: I don’t think you’re being selfish. I do think you’re overwhelmed by loss.
You need to give yourself a break. I think it would be wise to step away from all of these triggers and work on your own healing.
Some people might welcome the timing of the emergence of a sibling (after extreme loss, here is a gain), but for you the timing could not be worse.
If you felt more emotionally balanced, however, you might not see this as a life-ruining event.
I’m not saying that you should force yourself to let this person into your world. I am saying that you should put this relationship on a shelf for a while and concentrate entirely on working through the losses you’ve experienced.
A grief counselor could help you to make sense of your own feelings.
You could find a grief group to attend through social media or by calling your local hospital.
You can email Amy Dickinson at [email protected] or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068.