Dealing with nosy relatives

Nobody gets to choose their family, and family members tend to be a part of their lives even if sometimes we wish they were not. Some of our relatives can wear on our nerves, particularly those who insist on knowing absolutely everything that is happening in our lives. Fortunately there are a few good tips that can help you cope with nosy relatives without causing a major upset in your family.

One method of dealing with the problem is to be direct but peaceful. Talk it over with them and express as politely as possible that their behavior annoys you at times. They may well become agitated and rude but the key is to not allow yourself to respond angrily; simply state your views calmly and politely but firmly.

You can also try simply ignoring them or if all else fails, a healthy dose of sarcasm might be the way to go. If a relative asks questions you find far too personal and intrusive, ask similarly personal and intrusive questions of them and make yourself an expert at the witty retort. This can be a lot of fun but can cause problems so should only be resorted to if direct action or ignoring still fails to make them take the hint.