Dear Knights,

Who are you dating? Where are you going to college? What are you going to do after college? You know you won’t get a job with that major? What’s your GPA? Why don’t you get a job? You don’t want to work in the family business?

As much as we love our family and extended family members, sometimes we can’t stand their questions about our future. Thanksgiving and Holiday parties are prime Q&A sessions for family members. So how do we avoid these pestering life questions?

1. Act Confident. Even if you have no idea what you’re doing with your life, if you act like you have a plan then your family won’t beleaguer that question much longer. If they ask if you have a job just say, “I’m looking and always on the hunt, but haven’t found anything yet.” Or if they ask why you’re still single, say confidently, “I don’t have time for a boyfriend/girlfriend.”
2. Short and Sweet. Long conversations with family is a great way to bond, but not if you don’t want to answer the uncomfortable life questions. So keep your answers short and to the point. I do not suggest going on and on about how your love life sucks or you’re so confused and stressed with college. Keep the responses short and they’ll end up asking other easier questions for you to answer.
3. Quickly Change the Topic. Talk about the other person and what they’ve been up to. Say “Enough about me tell me what you’ve been doing?” Adults won’t give up a chance to talk about themselves. And if they keep talking to you and you’re really done with the topic of conversation, excuse yourself and say you need to go to the bathroom or get some more food or a drink.

Stick to these three guidelines and the Thanksgiving dinner conversations will be a breeze. Trying to avoid all conversations will be impossible, but family members only ask these pestering questions because they care about you. We want to meet their expectations as kids and when they ask us why don’t we have a job or know what we want to do with our lives, then we feel like we’re letting them down.

They will love you no matter what, even if you have no idea what you’re doing with your life, your family is there to help you and guide you.

Happy Turkey Day!

Sincerely,

Siena