Dear Amy: During the pandemic, I started exploring my genealogy and recently found out that I have a half-sister, "Barb." We have the same father.

Barb was put up for adoption as an infant. Our father passed away without divulging her existence.

Barb and I have been in touch and are sharing information about our lives.

I recently discovered letters written by Barb's biological mother to our father during her pregnancy. Most of the letters are very loving, and detail what seems like a caring relationship between two teenagers and impoverished students who were not ready to raise a child. I have shared some information in the letters, and would like to share more, however the letters are not all good. Adoption was not the first plan for this pregnancy, if you get what I mean.

Should I give the letters to Barb? Should I weed out the unsavory ones? Should I just give her a couple of letters that detail the love her biological mother had for her new baby and the love these two people had for each other? They are very poignant and heartfelt.

Barb has had a very stable, loving upbringing with her adoptive parents and told me that she never felt like she was missing anything by not knowing her biological parents. Now that she is taking this journey, I thought she might want to have these letters, but I don't want to cause her any harm. Your advice?

Amy says: The isolation due to the pandemic seems to have brought on lots of DNA searches and closet cleanouts.

I often advocate for liberating people from family secrets — the deeply held secrets that generations conspire to hold close.

Your situation does not qualify as a family secret (you've already uncovered and disclosed the truth), but this falls into the: "What good would be served?" category.

Sharing a private letter from many decades ago where two very young people discussed the prospect of ending a pregnancy seems pointless. "Barb" might have already assumed that terminating the pregnancy was considered before her biological parents decided on adoption.

I don't quite know what you consider "unsavory," but I don't think you should share anything unsavory, unless the information disclosed would have an impact on Barb's physical health.

Stop the judging

Dear Amy: I find the range of people's actions and responses to the pandemic surprising and fascinating. I read somewhere that the best response to nearly any conflict is to express one's own fear and vulnerability, including the specific words, "I'm doing the best I can." Personally, when I'm dealing with a difficult encounter with anyone (of any age), I think to myself "they're doing the best they can." It's a great tool to bring down the tension and stop the judging.

Amy says: This is perfect. Thank you.

Send Ask Amy questions via e-mail to Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com.