Reject, Investigate, or Solve Your Relatives’ Curious Questions
Family leave, which sometimes means trying to cope with awkward or bothersome questions like “When are you two going to get married?” or “Still single, huh?” Here are some scripts you can use to answer these tedious old questions.
In The Huffington Post, psychologists provide three answers to five such general questions. Which one you choose will depend on whether you want to dismiss the question (respond with humor), study it (actually talk), or confront it (give a pedestrian answer).
For example, to the question “when will you two begin to give birth?” Psychologist Gail Gross suggests the following possible answers:
Decline : “No, we still use condoms. How is your sex life progressing? “
Confrontation : Gross advises people to respond softly, “ This is an interesting question. Unfortunately, I have no answer for you, ” and leave the conversation at that. She also added that when someone asks these “bore questions,” what they actually do throws you off balance. By reacting in this way, concludes Gross, you are reaffirming your boundaries and restoring a level playing field.
Explore that if you feel safe with this person, perhaps consider letting them talk about their plans or difficulties. Some who have miscarried may feel relieved by talking about it. Or, if you are trying and it takes time, share your frustrations.
But what’s a gala dinner without a little family drama?
Flip Your Family’s Awkward Holiday Questions Script | The huffington post