Single. And That’s Okay, Aunt Helen!

"So....Emmy....where's your boyfriend?"

Like nearly every other college student on the face of the planet, Thanksgiving Break is something that I am eagerly anticipating. The dorms are always busy and fun, but everyone appreciates a little break now and then. There’s nothing quite like going home, eating my dad’s brownies, watching movies with my sister, and taking my dog along on runs.

I do love the holiday of Thanksgiving as well. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pie, and my little cousins dressed up as pilgrims, all my extended family gathered into my Grandma’s kitchen to say grace. I am blessed with a crazy bizarre extended family, the best kind to have in my opinion, and they are always the highlight of my holidays.

But as much as I love them all to death, sometimes their questions can be a bit too much. While I appreciate their interest in my life, I don’t feel the need to explain the details of the break up with my long term boyfriend to my uncle while waiting in line for cranberry sauce. Similarly, having my conservative aunt question me about boys that I might marry while she calmly serves out pumpkin pie just takes away my appetite!

Now, I understand that my aunt grew up in a very different culture than I do. Yet it truly does make my stomach full of turkey turn to hear this woman I am related to tell me that the most important thing for me to do in college is to meet the man I am going to marry. I love my aunt, but this idea of success disgusts me.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I definitely picture marriage eventually in my life plan. And I have nothing against people in long term relationships. Up until recently, I was one of them myself!

What I do have a problem with is the notion that success must come from somewhere outside of one’s self. I very much believe that in order to be able to contribute to a healthy relationship, you must be a strong confident person in your own right. And in the 21st century, no strong confident woman spends her college years desperately seeking a man. I realize that my aunt might never understand this, but I’m already a success, which for right now includes academic and extracurricular achievement, as well as maintaining healthy relationships with my friends and family.

I know that in the end, all my aunt wants is for me to be happy, so I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to hear about all the fun things I’ve been up to at college. Deflection is my new technique for distracting my relatives from topics I don’t care to discuss with them. (“No, I don’t have a boyfriend… but I did just get elected to student government! And my best friends and I are planning a road trip for spring break!”)

So this year, instead of letting my stomach turn in anger at another one of my aunt’s lectures, my stomach will be happy and full of turkey and love. At least that’s the plan. Let’s hope my aunt takes the hint or I may end up skipping pumpkin pie entirely this year.

And no one should do that.

4 Comments on "Single. And That’s Okay, Aunt Helen!"

  1. 28 yr old says:
    Fri, 20th Nov 20096:25 pm 

    Don’t stress yourself out. By the time you are 28, all your friends that married their college sweethearts will be starting the divorce procedures! (scary truth)

  2. Casey says:
    Sat, 21st Nov 20096:20 pm 

    I love how it used to be all the people who married their high school sweethearts were bound to get divorced, now apparently if you marry your college sweetheart ^ you’re still not capable of maintaining a marriage. What’s next, if you marry your nursing home sweetheart you’ll be begging for divorce before one of you croaks?

    Maybe we should just get rid of marriage all together if all will eventually end in divorce.

Tell us what you're thinking...




COVER STORY

21 Things I Learned in My 21st Year 21 Things I Learned in My 21st Year

#9: Reading for pleasure is magical. Make time for it! Just last February, I was... 

Take Action to End Violence Against Women Take Action to End Violence Against Women

One of the most important issues we are facing today is violence against women. Based... 

The Sober One The Sober One

It took until the middle of my junior year of college, but I finally went to my first... 

Read More Posts From This Category

HAHA

Show Yourself Some Love This Valentine’s Day Show Yourself Some Love This Valentine’s Day

For us single girls, Valentine’s Day can seriously suck. Even if you love... 

Single. On Valentine’s Day Single. On Valentine’s Day

So I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Valentine’s Day is coming up. Yes, as... 

The CC Weekly Weigh In: Significant Jerks The CC Weekly Weigh In: Significant Jerks

I'd rather spend my V-day crying into a bowl of noodles than have to hang out... 

Read More Posts From This Category
From Popeater: Will Ellen Boost Idol’s Ratings?

From Popeater: Will Ellen Boost Idol’s Ratings?

After months of speculation, Ellen DeGeneres will finally have the chance to prove herself worthy of the seat between ‘American Idol’ judges Kara, Randy and Simon. Tuesday night marks her much anticipated ‘Idol’ debut, replacing former judge Paula Abdul.