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The original was posted on /r/relationships by /u/Adventurous_Type_435 on 2024-01-18 20:16:06+00:00.
My mom has been an attorney for the majority of my life. She’s told everyone, family, friends, etc. that this is her job. I had absolutely no reason to doubt her because she works for a big firm and we live a nice life.
Around February of last year, I was doing an assignment for college that required a fake state bar license number. My mom suggested I use hers. Curiosity got the best of me and I put in the bar number she gave me into my state’s attorney database. Nothing came up. I wrote it off as me not knowing how to use the site. Fast forward to today, I’m using my mom’s laptop for an assignment and I see that she has her resume saved. I open the file and my mom’s occupation is listed as “paralegal”. Her education lists only her undergrad and paralegal certification. I started freaking out and although I’m not proud of this, I went through her e-mail. I was looking for validation that I was wrong and that the resume was old. I found a recent email from her current job with her work signature and it said “Senior Paralegal.”
I called my dad (55M) (they’re divorced) immediately to ask if my mom is an att0rney. He was no help. He knew as much as I did since they've been divorced for so long. I called my older sister (36F) and she was shocked but also knew nothing about the situation. They both agreed it was my choice if I wanted to say something to my mom or not.
I don't know why she would lie about something like this? Keeping up this story for YEARS must be exhausting. What hurts the most is that I am applying for law schools now and she is the main reason for me doing so. She's inspired me and I want to follow in her footsteps. I applied to her supposed alma matter and put down that my mother is an alumni in my application. I don’t know what to do. I’m scared to ask/confront my mom because I live with her and she is currently supporting me while I go to school. Should I just let it go and let this eat away at me? What is there to gain from me confronting her? Any advice is appreciated.
TL;DR! My mom is lying about being a lawyer. I found an e-mail that states her current job position as "Senior Paralegal." Not sure if I should ask her about it or let the situation go.