Connecting With Long-Lost Relatives: How To Stay Safe And Build A Lasting Connection
Since the rise in popularity of DNA home testing kits, people across the globe are connecting with distant relations they never knew they had. It can be an exciting time, but it is also crucial to be cautious with anyone claiming to be a relation. Take things slow and consider safety measures like further testing to ensure that they are who they say they are.
Just because someone is blood-related to you doesn’t mean they aren’t still strangers. Likely, you’ll be hoping that won’t be the case for long, but it can be challenging to build a familial bond with someone you didn’t grow up with. It is a delicate topic, and you’ll need to be able to communicate well to build a solid relationship.
Consider Professional Help Through The Initial Meeting
Meeting a long-lost relative can be an intense experience, and there will likely be many emotions, positive and negative, going through your mind. Finding a therapist to help you through the initial meetings with your long-lost relative can be a smart and healthy choice. It is best to contact a few different therapists and use a directory to find someone who might have experience with people who are going through what you are.
Get Independent Confirmation DNA Testing
It is always best to be doubly sure that the person you’re talking to is your relative. Even if you connected via a DNA tracing kit, taking another independent test can be crucial for your peace of mind. Choose an industry-leading lab to get tested so that you can feel confident in the results. AlphaBiolabs are a great example of the quality and expertise you should be looking for.
Meet On Neutral – Public – Ground
There are a lot of steps to take before you meet up with a long-lost relative, including confirming their identity and story and learning more about them via messaging and phone calls. Once you’re ready to meet in person, it is best to choose a location that is neutral for both of you. Coffee shops, restaurants and bars are good options since public places add a level of safety to meeting your relative. As mentioned above, a therapist’s office could also be a great place for an initial meeting.
Maintain Boundaries And Manage Expectations
Just because you are related by blood to someone doesn’t mean you should feel pressured into an instant familial relationship with them. Try to work out your boundaries before you meet and continue to reassess as you go. Let your relative know what you expect out of the meeting and ask about their own expectations in turn.
Conclusion
Discovering that you have a relation, you never know about can be intense and scary at times. Depending on their relation to you, it could open up a lot of difficult questions and emotions that you’ll have to work through. You need to be cautious when trying to make a relationship with a long-lost relative and take your time. Do only what feels right and comfortable, and remember that it is okay not to want to take your connection any further.
