How to deal with family drama when you are in your late 20s and still single

Of the many things you are expected to achieve in your late 20s, procuring a husband or wife tops the priority list if you belong to an Indian family. And god forbid if you are single and all your friends are happily married and with shool-going children. Your parents, relatives and friends will make sure they do not miss an opportunity to find a perfect partner for you. If you are looking for suggestions to handle the family drama surrounding your status single, here’s what you need to do.

A lot of time you feel cornered because everyone is against you and they believe that it is their life’s mission to find you a soul mate. Remember, to fight an army, you need a bigger army. Unfortunately, in this case, you would not find too many people supporting your status single but at least find someone who can see your side of the story and convince your family and the world that you would rather be single and happy than get married because everyone expects you to.

Just like it’s important to set boundaries with a partner, it is equally important to set some boundaries with family members and friends. Whenever you face the heat from your folks to get married, tell them clearly that you would do that when you find the right person and until then they should not keep pestering you. You can also speak about the consequences people have to face when they succumb under family pressure and tie the knot with the wrong person.

There are events and gatherings during which family members are actively involved in discussing the relationship status of people around them. And weddings are one such example. So, it’s better to avoid attending such occasions where you will become the subject of everyone’s discussion.

When nothing works, the best way to deal with family drama is to ignore it completely. Sometimes, people are encouraged by the reactions they get from the listener, and this situation is no different. If you find your family and friends harping on this topic of marriage too often, you can acknowledge whatever they say with a smile without taking much interest in the conversation. They might back off when they see your indifference.

If you think you can’t handle the family drama and pressure surrounding your relationship status or the lack of it, you can always look for ways to lead an independent life instead of depending on them for everything. When you move out and start living on your own, you learn so many things and become a better and stronger version of yourself.

Remember, it’s your life and no one has the right to force you to do something when you aren’t ready for it. The sooner you make your family and friends realise it, the better it is for you. And hopefully, when they understand your point of view regarding marriage, their demands and drama surrounding your life too would come down a notch.

(All images used here are representational)