“Your Dad Isn’t Your Dad.” Then Came the Warnings. (Part 2)

As Meaghan Carriere approached her fortieth birthday, her grandfather told her he had a forty-year-old secret. She was ready to listen. He wasn’t ready to tell her. In the conclusion of this two-part Family Twist conversation, Meaghan joins Corey to explore the relationships that looked different after she learned the truth about her biological father. Writing her book meant deciding what to share, how to tell it, and how to approach the person she worried about most: her mother. They worked through the manuscript one chapter at a time, making room for difficult conversations and different memories. Learning more about her grandparents’ lives also helped Meaghan develop compassion for her mother. But some conversations never happened, leaving questions she still carries. Meaghan shares another discovery about the aunt she adored: this woman had helped care for her as an infant. That missing piece brought new understanding to a loss that had hurt far more than she expected. We also return to the potential adoption that set her own family discovery in motion. What happened to the young mother Meaghan and her family were supporting? Her answer brings this conversation to a hopeful close. In this episode: Sharing a family memoir with the people who appear in it Developing compassion without losing your own perspective A grandfather’s promise to reveal a decades-old secret Raising children with honesty after growing up around secrecy Rethinking adoption and supporting a mother’s wish to parent Understanding grief after learning about an early caregiving bond Finding comfort in music, including Glen Hansard’s “Step Out of the Shadows” Meaghan is the author of You Belong Here: An Expressive and Mindful Journey Through Misattributed Parentage. Listen to Part 1: “Your Dad Isn’t Your Dad.” Then Came the Warnings. Connect with Meaghan: You Belong Here on Amazon Meaghan’s website Instagram You Belong Here on Substack All links and resources More Family Twist: Visit our website Join Family Twist After Hours Follow Family Twist for more conversations about adoption, unexpected parentage, donor conception, and the many ways we find family. If this story connects with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Want more Corey and Kendall? Join us for Family Twist After Hours, our weekly unfiltered bonus podcast featuring personal stories, family secrets, behind-the-scenes conversations and plenty we don't share on the regular show. Your Patreon membership also helps cover the costs of keeping Family Twist going. Plus, subscribers get new Family Twist episodes a day early! Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/FamilyTwistPodcastAfterHours