Who among us hasn’t told a little white lie to spare a loved one’s feelings? Occasionally, it’s kinder to shield someone from the truth rather than risk causing them distress or disappointment – but sometimes these innocent deceptions can spiral beyond our control.
One Reddit user revealed how a harmless lie they told their mother more than three decades ago continues to haunt them today – albeit for the most touching of reasons, reports the Mirror. Posting on the social media site’s r/confession forum, they explained: “I grew up really poor. When I was about five, my mom was visibly upset because she couldn’t afford to get cake mix for my birthday cake.
“All she had was the ingredients to make a German chocolate cake. I instantly told her that was my favourite cake ever. It definitely was not. I hate chocolate and I hate coconut even more.
“Every year since then for my birthday she makes me a German chocolate birthday cake and is so super excited and it takes all I have to choke down a single slice. When she sends it home with me, I toss it right in the trash. She’s much older now and I will never tell her the truth.”
The user later updated their post, revealing their mother is now in her 70s and battling health issues. “She struggles to make anything in the kitchen now due to her health as it is and probably won’t be with us more than a few more years if we are lucky,” they shared. “I would hate to change it at all now.
“Honestly, no matter how much I hate it, I will miss her yearly birthday cake when she is gone. But thank you all.”
Reddit users were unanimous in their response – the secret must stay buried. One declared: “Never ever tell her. Take it to your grave.
“I realise I’m just a stranger on the internet, but please trust me on this… when your next birthday comes around, take the cake home. Cut up a few slices and freeze them. Frozen cake doesn’t go bad over the years, so it’ll be fine 10 or 20 years down the road.
“You have no way of knowing it now, but that first birthday you have without your mother is going to hurt so much worse than you can imagine. Having a bit of that cake, even though you’ve hated it all these years, is going to feel like you’ve got a piece of your mother again. I would give anything in the world to have any of my mom’s cooking again.”
Another user recounted a remarkably similar tale from their own experience. They revealed: “My grandmother somehow got it in her head that the whole family loved carrot cake and would make it for every get together.
“None of us were really fond of it and my mom had to be careful because she has a mild allergy to coconut that the shavings make worse. But we would all eat a piece because that was her way of showing us she loved us. If I could have her back for even a day, I’d eat a whole damn carrot cake by myself.”
Someone else wrote: “I bet it’s brought her so much joy over the years being able to make that for you and have this tradition. Good secret to keep.”
And another said: “Thank you for never telling her. As a mom, I would be heartbroken if I found out you felt like you had to protect my feelings as a child and then continue it for 30 years. Bless you for your kind heart and love of your mom.”
