--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My aunt doesn’t seem surprised by this…" description: "\"“My aunt doesn’t seem surprised by this. She fixes me with the type of look adults use when they are about to reveal to a child some unfortunate, troub..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/laurie-forest-13591_children_my-aunt-doesn-t-seem-surprised-by-this-s_1433007.jpg" --- # My aunt doesn’t seem surprised by this. She fixes me with… ![“My aunt doesn’t seem surprised by this. She fixes me with the type of look adults use when they are about to reveal to a child some unfortunate, troubling fact of life. “The Council is coming to take custody of her baby.” I blink in shocked surprise. Aunt Vyvian lays a comforting hand on my…” quote by Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/laurie-forest-13591_children_my-aunt-doesn-t-seem-surprised-by-this-s_1433007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/laurie-forest-13591_children_my-aunt-doesn-t-seem-surprised-by-this-s_1433007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/laurie-forest-13591_children_my-aunt-doesn-t-seem-surprised-by-this-s_1433007.jpg) > ““My aunt doesn’t seem surprised by this. She fixes me with the type of look adults use when they are about to reveal to a child some unfortunate, troubling fact of life. “The Council is coming to take custody of her baby.” I blink in shocked surprise. Aunt Vyvian lays a comforting hand on my shoulder. “The child is deformed, Elloren. It needs a physician’s care, and much more.” “What’s wrong with it?” I breathe, almost not wanting to know. Aunt Vyvian searches my eyes, hesitant to tell me what I know will be something monstrous. “Elloren,” she explains gravely, “Sage has given birth to an Icaral.”” [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child’s deformity is hidden behind a protective lie, revealing societal fear of the unknown and the burden of truth. **In simple terms:** Secrets protect but also imprison; truth can be painful. Key Takeaway Balance honesty with compassion. Themes family secrets truth fear Mood empathetic tense Type dramatic emotional When to use this quote - medical ethics - personal growth - cultural tradition Key Concepts ethical dilemmas social stigma parental responsibility Questions to Reflect On - When should truth be withheld? - How does fear shape family dynamics? A Different Perspective The narrative may dramatize for effect, oversimplifying complex medical realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aunt/) [Aunt Vyvian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aunt-vyvian-868293/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Know Aunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-aunt-2330371/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Reveal Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reveal-child-5068094/) [Surprise Aunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise-aunt-5107071/) ## Related quotes > [“But—she mentioned three young women. I blink at her in confusion, wondering if I heard her wrong. “And the third?” Aunt Vyvian’s mouth grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/but-she-mentioned-three-young-women-i-blink-at-her-in-confusion/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“I don't suppose you'd know where your Aunt Emily is sleeping?" "Gah," the baby replied. "You are a veritable wellspring of information.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-willingham/i-don-t-suppose-you-d-know-where-your-aunt-emily-is-sleeping-gah-the/) [Michelle Willingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-willingham/) > [“And I know that my aunt Helen would still be alive today if she just bought me one present like everybody else. She would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/and-i-know-that-my-aunt-helen-would-still-be-alive-today-if-she-just/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [Despite everything my mom and doctor and dad have said to me about blame, I can't stop thinking what I know. And I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/despite-everything-my-mom-and-doctor-and-dad-have-said-to-me-about/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [These words reveal the child’s inner needs; ‘Help me to do it alone’.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/these-words-reveal-the-child-s-inner-needs-help-me-to-do-it-alone/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [I know as an aunt, you fall into the trap of turning to your niece and saying, 'you look beautiful' - because of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/i-know-as-an-aunt-you-fall-into-the-trap-of-turning-to-your-niece-and/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [“Yet the upcoming year was going to be a new phase of my life. I would get to follow my big brother to the big house. I had reached that golden age of six. Finally, I was going to experience the real deal. This was no appetizer, or tater tots, or French fries. This was the whole Ore-Ida. I would be amongst thechaos like all the neighborhood kids. Everyone that knew Jerry would get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-phifer/yet-the-upcoming-year-was-going-to-be-a-new-phase-of-my-life-i-would/) [Harold Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-phifer/) > [“You will not be able to shelter her forever,” my aunt insists. “What will happen when you are gone someday, and all the suitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/you-will-not-be-able-to-shelter-her-forever-my-aunt-insists-what-will/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [I'll just do a round around of the house and make sure the rest of the family are fast asleep. We don't want that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/i-ll-just-do-a-round-around-of-the-house-and-make-sure-the-rest-of/) [Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/) > [“Aunt Helen Beck had many intentions about her death. She was about being dead the way some people are about being British - she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mccracken/aunt-helen-beck-had-many-intentions-about-her-death-she-was-about/) [Elizabeth McCracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mccracken/) > [My aunt and uncle are clearly civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/my-aunt-and-uncle-are-clearly-civilians/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [“Quin took on the air of someone who has just realized it's time for the yearly visit to the spinster great-aunt in a desperate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fecteau/quin-took-on-the-air-of-someone-who-has-just-realized-it-s-time-for/) [Amy Fecteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fecteau/) > [I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-was-painfully-shy-so-my-aunt-suggested-to-my-mum-that-me-and-my/) [Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/) > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My aunt Carol hasn’t heard her say a word in the whole six years and three months of Grace’s life—not a single syllable. Carol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/my-aunt-carol-hasn-t-heard-her-say-a-word-in-the-whole-six-years-and/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) ## More by Laurie Forest > [“There are assorted side characters, too: the beautiful Gardnerian maidens with their long black hair; wicked Lupine shapeshifters—half-human, half-wolf; green-scaled Snake Elves; and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/there-are-assorted-side-characters-too-the-beautiful-gardnerian/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“You will not be able to shelter her forever,” my aunt insists. “What will happen when you are gone someday, and all the suitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/you-will-not-be-able-to-shelter-her-forever-my-aunt-insists-what-will/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“But—she mentioned three young women. I blink at her in confusion, wondering if I heard her wrong. “And the third?” Aunt Vyvian’s mouth grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/but-she-mentioned-three-young-women-i-blink-at-her-in-confusion/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“This Yvan Guriel doesn’t even know me, I lament, glaring resentfully at him out of the corner of my eye. He has no right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/this-yvan-guriel-doesn-t-even-know-me-i-lament-glaring-resentfully-at/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“There it is. Chemistrie. Professor Astrid Volya. I glance back over at Andras. “What’s her son like?” I wonder. “He’s quiet,” Aislinn whispers, looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/there-it-is-chemistrie-professor-astrid-volya-i-glance-back-over-at/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“Reluctantly, I say my goodbyes to Echo and follow behind Aislinn, trying my best to ignore the Kelt, Yvan Guriel, as he sets his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/reluctantly-i-say-my-goodbyes-to-echo-and-follow-behind-aislinn/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“That’s nothing,” Paige says, eyes wide. “You should see what else she can do. She’s a Level Five Mage. One of the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/that-s-nothing-paige-says-eyes-wide-you-should-see-what-else-she-can/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“My grandmother, more than any other woman, was the standard bearer of Gardnerian beauty. Known as “The Black Witch” by our enemies, she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/my-grandmother-more-than-any-other-woman-was-the-standard-bearer-of/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“I stare at him, feeling as if I’m caught in a surreal scene. The son of the Black Witch, as wildly intimidating in appearance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/i-stare-at-him-feeling-as-if-i-m-caught-in-a-surreal-scene-the-son-of/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“It’s hard, isn’t it?” he asks, his own voice breaking. “To have a mind that strays outside the lines?” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/it-s-hard-isn-t-it-he-asks-his-own-voice-breaking-to-have-a-mind-that/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“I’ll tell you what,” he bargains, amused. “There’s a dance every Yule at University. You go with Gareth, and I’ll ask Aislinn Greer.” “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/i-ll-tell-you-what-he-bargains-amused-there-s-a-dance-every-yule-at/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“My heart speeds up slightly at the sight of them so close, so intimate, and I suddenly feel worried about my friend. It’s one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/my-heart-speeds-up-slightly-at-the-sight-of-them-so-close-so-intimate/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“raise my eyebrows, relieved to finally be meeting someone outside Fallon’s social circle. I extend my hand to her. “I’m Elloren Gardner.” She laughs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/raise-my-eyebrows-relieved-to-finally-be-meeting-someone-outside/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“The woods are beautiful. They’re my friends, the trees, and I can feel them smiling down at me. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/the-woods-are-beautiful-they-re-my-friends-the-trees-and-i-can-feel/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [“Shane’s hand is grasped around a crystal cup tightly as if he’s trying to decide whom to throw it at. He’s shorter than most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/shane-s-hand-is-grasped-around-a-crystal-cup-tightly-as-if-he-s/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) [Explore all 50 Laurie Forest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) ## More Aunt quotes > [“My aunt Carol hasn’t heard her say a word in the whole six years and three months of Grace’s life—not a single syllable. Carol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/my-aunt-carol-hasn-t-heard-her-say-a-word-in-the-whole-six-years-and/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-was-painfully-shy-so-my-aunt-suggested-to-my-mum-that-me-and-my/) [Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/) > [“Quin took on the air of someone who has just realized it's time for the yearly visit to the spinster great-aunt in a desperate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fecteau/quin-took-on-the-air-of-someone-who-has-just-realized-it-s-time-for/) [Amy Fecteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fecteau/) > [My aunt and uncle are clearly civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/my-aunt-and-uncle-are-clearly-civilians/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [“Aunt Helen Beck had many intentions about her death. She was about being dead the way some people are about being British - she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mccracken/aunt-helen-beck-had-many-intentions-about-her-death-she-was-about/) [Elizabeth McCracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mccracken/) > [I'll just do a round around of the house and make sure the rest of the family are fast asleep. We don't want that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/i-ll-just-do-a-round-around-of-the-house-and-make-sure-the-rest-of/) [Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/) > [In the summer of 1964, my sister and I went to South Ballston, Virginia, to stay with my aunt and her kids. They passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/in-the-summer-of-1964-my-sister-and-i-went-to-south-ballston-virginia/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [“I look like Barbara Bush in drag." Aunt Jettie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/i-look-like-barbara-bush-in-drag-aunt-jettie/) [Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/) > [I only wanted Uncle Vernon standing by his own car (a Hudson) on a clear day, I got him and the car. Ialso got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/i-only-wanted-uncle-vernon-standing-by-his-own-car-a-hudson-on-a/) [Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/) > [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [My aunt got me interested in journalism - she found an old typewriter, had it worked over, put it on the dining room table,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/my-aunt-got-me-interested-in-journalism-she-found-an-old-typewriter/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [This kind of thing always amazed Ginny--people who just walked away from institutions. People who left school when they didn't see the point. Aunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/this-kind-of-thing-always-amazed-ginny-people-who-just-walked-away/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“You will not be able to shelter her forever,” my aunt insists. “What will happen when you are gone someday, and all the suitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/you-will-not-be-able-to-shelter-her-forever-my-aunt-insists-what-will/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [my sweet old etcetera aunt lucy during the recent war could and what is more did tell you just what everybody was fighting for,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-sweet-old-etcetera-aunt-lucy-during-the-recent-war-could-and-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 720 Aunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aunt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“My aunt doesn’t seem surprised by this. She fixes me with the type of look adults use when they are about to reveal to a child some unfortunate, troubling fact of life. “The Council is coming to take custody of her baby.” I blink in shocked surprise. Aunt Vyvian lays a comforting hand on my shoulder. “The child is deformed, Elloren. It needs a physician’s care, and much more.” “What’s wrong with it?” I breathe, almost not wanting to know. Aunt Vyvian searches my eyes, hesitant to tell me what I know will be something monstrous. “Elloren,” she explains gravely, “Sage has given birth to an Icaral.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurie Forest" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/my-aunt-doesn-t-seem-surprised-by-this-she-fixes-me-with-the-type-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aunt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/my-aunt-doesn-t-seem-surprised-by-this-she-fixes-me-with-the-type-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/laurie-forest-13591_children_my-aunt-doesn-t-seem-surprised-by-this-s_1433007.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/laurie-forest-13591_children_my-aunt-doesn-t-seem-surprised-by-this-s_1433007.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/laurie-forest-13591_children_my-aunt-doesn-t-seem-surprised-by-this-s_1433007.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My aunt doesn’t seem surprised by this. She fixes me with the type of look adults use when they are about to…” — Laurie Forest", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Laurie Forest", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“My aunt doesn’t seem surprised by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/my-aunt-doesn-t-seem-surprised-by-this-she-fixes-me-with-the-type-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/my-aunt-doesn-t-seem-surprised-by-this-she-fixes-me-with-the-type-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```