Asking The Hard Questions, Finding The Hard Answers

One of the quotes that I’ve used since I started giving talks at the library is by Mr. Bennett Greenspan with Family Tree DNA, and he says “If you don’t want to know the answer, don’t ask the question.” Amazingly, that’s about the most true statement I think I’ve ever heard when it comes to DNA.

DNA does not lie, and I always tell whoever I test that they have to be prepared for whatever the results are. We think we know who our parents are, but oftentimes results come back and it’s very surprising. So, if you’re not ready to accept the fact that your biological father isn’t your biological father or the fact that maybe you have a half-sibling out there that you didn’t know about, maybe you have a grandchild out there that you didn’t know about, those are all things that people need to consider.

I would say that 95% of people DNA test for ethnicity purposes, but along with that come to DNA matches and come questions. And in my own personal experiences, in my little family in little old, small Central Louisiana and South Louisiana, I have discovered many, many secrets and many stories that probably would make my grandmother roll in her grave if she knew. It’s really important for people to know that.

I also believe that I am the person that I am because of who my biological parents are and who their parents were, and that makes my children who they are. So, I think that people need to embrace the fact that that’s who they are. So, if the results come back and that’s not who your biological father is, you still need to realize that you are who you are because of the man that your biological father is.

My Journey to Becoming a Genealogist

In 2003, my first grandfather died and I grew up in a very close family. But after he died, I realized that I really did not know much about his parents and his family other than his siblings. And I was very curious to find out that information.

Helping Adoptees Find Their Identity

When I started this work, I think I knew one adoptee. And when I got involved with this, it really blew my mind at how many people were either adopted or did not know who their fathers were. I started my own genealogy and researching.

Cajun Heritage, Genealogy & Endogamy

The fact that I am Cajun and all my DNA matches are Cajun makes it a little bit more difficult to do searches. One of the reasons I did DNA was to be able to separate people who are related to me on my mother and my father’s side.