Tired of family meddling in my love life
For context, I (17f) don’t even plan to have a boyfriend soon as I’m busy with the loads of schoolwork.
My parents don’t want me to date that young since they think it will make my academic performance worse, but they don’t mind me having friends of the opposite gender (after fighting for them to normalize it). I noticed that family members (from both sides), even the ones I’m not close with really like to meddle into my love life as if it’s their business.
Men in my family really like to tell me not to have male friends around and only to stay with my gender as if they don’t have other children in my family to take care of. Sorry but hello? You don’t even ask for some news about me, but you’re here opening your mouth about who I should stay with? Don’t they have daughters to worry about? There are other cousins of mine too, they should tell them the same. I don’t know why it should specifically be me.
Women at my dad’s side really like using the excuse of me having a potential boyfriend to shame my mom. I don’t know why it should even be a problem? They don’t ask for me either but still have the audacity to meddle into my love life. “I saw […] with boys the other day” “I dreamt about […] having a boyfriend, keep an eye on her” “…Your daughter has a secret boyfriend”, in the middle of an argument with my mom. I’m tired of the those. If my own parents don’t have any problem with that, it isn’t their place to talk about it.
Again, they have their OWN daughters to worry about. Why target me as if I was a little kid that had to be protected from all men somehow.
How can I express my discontent about it respectfully? As I’m still a teenager, they will probably say that I’m being disrespectful for “talking back”
Posted Dec 5, 2025, 3:17 PM UTC