Is it right for my family to always be nosey about who I am going out with?

Question

I have been divorced a few years now, when I would go out with someone my family would make such a big deal out of it and call and tell everyone in the area. If there is a family get together the first thing they always ask is when are you going to get married. I have since not attended any family get togethers as this is the only thing they gossip about. Frankly it is none of there business what i do in my life.

Answer 1

Dating after divorce
By Lambeth Hochwald
So you’re single again and dating. When do you let someone know that you’ve been wed before? Should you put it out there as soon as the conversation stops for a second — “By the way, I’m divorced” — or do you keep your past under wraps until asked directly? And what if there’s so much venom surrounding your split that you can’t discuss the matter without a generous dose of expletives?

Let us help you with all that. Experts agree that, no matter how bitter, divorce isn’t anything to be ashamed of. In fact, a divorce on your relationship resume shows you have experience in the love department and that you have a more realistic view of marriage than those who’ve never tied the knot. The key is presenting all of this properly. Here, pointers from the pro’s on how and when to bring up the topic with the people you date:

Don't hide the facts
Many newly-single daters avoid conversations about their past because they’re unsure how to broach the topic—or how it’ll be received, says Gilda Carle, Ph.D., a psychotherapist specializing in relationships. You should absolutely say you’re divorced on a first date; bringing it up later in a budding relationship will seem as if you were hiding something. “The object of a first date is to get to know someone, so do share that you’ve been married. It’s just like mentioning where you grew up and the number of siblings you have. But save the details of the divorce for later,” advises Carle.

You might say something like: “Just so you know, I’m divorced, but the relationship ended amicably,” or, if that’s not the case, “I should mention that I’m divorced, but excited to be dating now.” You want to get across that you’re okay and have moved on.

Your date may well be curious and start asking questions like, “What went wrong?” Don’t take the bait, advises April Masini, author of Date Out of Your League. You don’t want your break-up to dominate your first date—or even your second. Say there’s time to talk about all that in the future.

Don’t bad-mouth your ex
When you do talk about your divorce, know this: Even if your ex turned out to be an awful creature, try to take at least a little responsibility for your part of the problems, says Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D., psychotherapist and author of The Unofficial Guide to Dating Again. “Even if your spouse cheated on you, own up to any lack of connection on your part that may have contributed to his or her making such a bad move,” suggests Tessina. What you want to convey is not that you were the poor victim of a bad mate, but that you learned from your experience.”

If you really were wronged by your ex, don’t dwell on it with your new love. Diane K. Danielson, 37, a divorced mother of a five-year-old, says that she can tell a lot about a man by how he talks about his ex. “There was one man I called ‘ADG’ or Angry Divorced Guy. He couldn’t refer to his ex without adding ‘that witch’,” she recalls. “I left after one drink. He clearly had a lot of unresolved issues that I didn't need to deal with.” If you need to vent about your split, lean on a supportive friend, family member or a therapist instead.

Air your dirty laundry sparingly
As your new relationship progresses, go slowly with full disclosure about your divorce, advises Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., a tenured Professor of Sociology at the University of Washington. If your new love shares past relationship problems with you, consider it an invitation to do the same. “To be sure it's time, share some little bits of information, such as ‘my previous relationship ended very badly’ and see how your new partner responds,” Tessina says. “If he or she is sympathetic, share a few more details.” If the person’s jealous or critical of you, well, that’s a sign that you may not want them in your life for the long haul anyway.

Answer 2

Don't forgo family get togethers just because of this. That is the way families are. They really don't mean any harm. Their lives are boring compared to yours. They are all settled so there is nothing interesting to talk about. Believe me you are the topic even if you aren't there. It would be better to be on hand to know how off the conversation becomes. At least that way when it gets too far out you can real them back in. If you have a naughty streak in you can always be on hand to make it more bizare than the truth and watch the jaws drop.

Answer 3

concern is one thing, nosey is quite another. Go ahead and get together with family functions, when they ask about marriage, always answer the same untill it gets around, not planning too, not ready, no one special, whatever. After a while they get bored of the same answer and nothing to gossip about. God, i hate gossip. Make your life ( for their benifit only) so boring they'll be affraid to ask.

Answer 4

If it's your parents or grandparents, they are worried that you will be alone. If it's sisters and brothers or cousins, it could be that they are also concerned about you being alone or it could be they are just enthusiastic for your new relationship.

Depending on how obnoxious they are about it, you may want to speak with them and in a gentle way tell them that your dating life is none of their business and you will let them know when there is anything to report. It may stop them, it may not.

I came to an accord with my family and agreed to not introduce anyone I was dating to them unless I was serious about the person. (since I haven't introduced them to anyone since 1994, I will feel sorry for the poor man who I finally do get serious about and introduce to the family....)

Answer 5

It's allright for them to show a measure of concern, but beyond that they're out of line. Gossip is a polite form of murder by character assasination, and has no place in your or anyone else's affairs. Remember, people are a party to gossip merely by listening to it.

Answer 6

I'm so happy I have a family who don't ask anything! But at times, I wish they would.
Merry Christmas

Answer 7

This is one reason why I don't tell my family anything about my love or dating life , I can't understand why they get so concerned with it...

Answer 8

Are you living at home with your parents?

They have watched you getting hurt with your first divorce and are only being concerned parents. They do not want more hurt for you.

You are lucky that they are showing you that they care.

Answer 9

Tell them you have several boyfriends and all you know is that you're having a blast!