How do I shut people, who take jabs at my lack of love life, down
So, I have two female cousins. Both of them get a kick out of asking me about my love life, I feel - which they know I lack. Cousin A has asked me questions in the past such as 'Do you have a girlfriend' or even 'Have you ever had a girlfriend?'. Questions she knows I'm not comfortable answering and questions she knows the answer to. Cousin B recently brought up the topic of dating hardships and she just 'casually' mentioned how some of her friends are nearing their 30s and have never been in a relationship. Now, I realize I might be reading too much into this, but at that time, I felt this statement was particularly aimed at me. I guess, chances are 50/50 it was a jab at me. Those are just a few instances.
As to why they do this, my theory is that I've always been an overachiever. I've always crushed it academically and I'm doing very well professionally as of now. I know for a fact that parents of peers, friends and relatives of mine have praised me in the past in front of their children for my brains, achievements and ambition. Which might have pitted some of them against me. And I've always overshadowed my cousins in that regard. I feel like this is their way of getting back at me. Me being on the shorter side, average looking and romantically unsuccessful gives them ammunition to use against me.
With all of that in mind, how would you retort in those situations? I'm 27 and my only sexual experience was with an escort, once. I've never had a gf. I would really like to shut my cousins down for good.
As to why they do this, my theory is that I've always been an overachiever. I've always crushed it academically and I'm doing very well professionally as of now. I know for a fact that parents of peers, friends and relatives of mine have praised me in the past in front of their children for my brains, achievements and ambition. Which might have pitted some of them against me. And I've always overshadowed my cousins in that regard. I feel like this is their way of getting back at me. Me being on the shorter side, average looking and romantically unsuccessful gives them ammunition to use against me.
With all of that in mind, how would you retort in those situations? I'm 27 and my only sexual experience was with an escort, once. I've never had a gf. I would really like to shut my cousins down for good.