Cupids Dating Blog

I don't know if this happens to everyone, but I know that for myself and a lot of my single friends, the holiday season is the time of year when your family sticks their nose into your personal life way more than is desirable.

To be sure, everyone means well. I think a lot of the awkwardness is also just a result of having busy lives. We don't even get to see our own families as often as we'd like. You'd think this would result in having all kinds of news to tell people, but sometimes it just means it's hard to find things to talk about at first. Naturally, everyone jumps right to people's romantic lives.

If you don't have a significant other, everyone starts asking you why or about how many people you're dating. Although, to be fair, I don't think this time of year is that much easier on my friends who are in relationships. At family dinners they get badgered about how long it will be before they get married or start having kids. Maybe there is just no defense. Maybe part of having a family is that accepting that they take joy in smiling while they ask you questions that make you feel awkward. Who knows?

On this subject, though, I saw one topical personal ad this season. I saw someone who was looking, basically, to meet someone for the sole purpose of taking turns running interference for each others families. The idea was to act as stand-ins to discourage questions. The idea made me laugh.

I don't know how great a movie it would be. I don't really like being dishonest, but I suppose some people's families are even harder to deal with than mine. Still, I suppose, even if it is only supposed to be a functional arrangement, meeting someone's family is a good way to get to know someone pretty quickly and acting as backup and being a good friend is as sensible an avenue for love as any other.