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Dealing with nosey relatives

Hi friends,
Ever since I quite my job to prepare for civils, relatives have become rather inquisitive regarding me. I have requested my parents not to tell them that I am preparing and say that I am continuing as before, but everytime they talk/meet them, they'll try to ask about me. Living outside of home has become expensive so that option isnt available. My parents arent willing to continue saying that I am still working but if they do tell them, even the days of results would become a nightmare as has been the case during my board exams as well as those of my siblings. So I do not want them to mention this. This has become a constant source of arguments among ourselves and adding to the uncertainty of the exam, it is a bane while at home.

It is always the best idea to ignore the naysayers but when they start influencing your only support system i. e. family and parents, life becomes a living hell.

What ways did u guys employ/are still employing to keep such nuisance at bay?
Feeling sad :'(
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Comments

  • Best way is to talk to your parents about this, if you and your parents have mutual faith then no one can disturb this relationship.
    It takes time for parents to know about the nature of exam, once they understand, things will go smoothly. Communication to parents is necessary.
    Relatives should not matter, it is easy to say but it is the only solution, ignore them.
  • relatives k andar aag lag jaati hai ki kahin select ho gaya to bahut aage nikal jayega humse..isliye unki fati rehti hai

    beware of them...prep in secrecy..
  • Don't worry, with time you will develop a thick skin and learn to ignore them. This is a usual problem faced by most of the aspirant. So you are not alone.
  • Hi friends,
    Ever since I quite my job to prepare for civils, relatives have become rather inquisitive regarding me. I have requested my parents not to tell them that I am preparing and say that I am continuing as before, but everytime they talk/meet them, they'll try to ask about me. Living outside of home has become expensive so that option isnt available. My parents arent willing to continue saying that I am still working but if they do tell them, even the days of results would become a nightmare as has been the case during my board exams as well as those of my siblings. So I do not want them to mention this. This has become a constant source of arguments among ourselves and adding to the uncertainty of the exam, it is a bane while at home.

    It is always the best idea to ignore the naysayers but when they start influencing your only support system i. e. family and parents, life becomes a living hell.

    What ways did u guys employ/are still employing to keep such nuisance at bay?
    Feeling sad :'(
    okay so i have a first hand experience of these incidents you have mentioned, and relatives are a pain in the ass to be brutally honest! Since the day I started preparing the people who were interested in my life more than ever were my relatives. For them I never existed in the first place or they dont even know what specialisation I did in graduation. they keep on taunting that shaadi karlo, job karlo, bache karlo. (mujhe toh lagta hay relatives ka murder karlo). over the years my parents made peace with me that my aim and ambition is more important than the awesome relatives and the samaaaj! So they handle the relatives at their level. When relatives come home they say I aint around or i just came back from holidays or whatever. I know some parents will be like "tumhare chakkar me hum kithna jhoot bolenge" , but its important for us to be happy, rather than pleasing some random person right?
    Things which I did which turned out okay for me where I stay in my room and have told my parents to tell my relatives that I am doing Post Graduation. If you want you can say you are working from home to your relatives. I spend most of the time in a library itself. I know moving out will be definitely expensive. SO i would not suggest you to do that.
  • edited June 2018
    Problem yahi hai upsc becomes not just yours but your family's journey too.
    I feel bad not only about those 'missing years' but action that i have taken out from their lives too.

    About the relatives and parents part. It is totally true. They support you but at the same time don't support you. Unless your own parents have tried and failed in exams, they really don't get it. Even if they want to.
    Just like we get desperate and criticise ourselves, they have someone to put all the critical judgements and who said what to them, who is doing what. (3,4,5 years is a good deal of time for anyone to make progress and hence the pressure keeps mounting on you and your parents when they see everyone else, even your younger siblings, juniors moving ahead)

    Best way out is to start working. Even if it means a teaching job at school, kill your ego and start. That ways atleast you will get experience and later you can do mba.
    Or join a library and give other comepetitive exams too.And keep shifting focus, do not spend time crying over. Rbi form will be out soon, uppcs too. You can write those. Give fixed 5-6 hours to upsc and the rest to others if you want to finish upsc mains syllabus alongwith.

    Ignoring relatives and their judgements, the spill effect of reactions from parents after a certain time ie 3 years and above becomes a burden. Its not easy to ignore, learn to become head strong and focus on why you are (if you are) going to give the next attempt.
    There is really no way out, except to not waste this year if you wish to take another attempt. Make your plan and stick to it.

    Waking up to a planned day and week ahead keeps you away from distractions and makes you more confident. Also try to cultivate hobbies, otherwise you will find the same syllabus and books borinng.
    Take it slowly and steadily , study with a relaxed mindset. Worrying can not help, only and only working, studying, moving forward will help.
  • Best way is to talk to your parents about this, if you and your parents have mutual faith then no one can disturb this relationship.
    It takes time for parents to know about the nature of exam, once they understand, things will go smoothly. Communication to parents is necessary.
    Relatives should not matter, it is easy to say but it is the only solution, ignore them.
    Thanks @Bharat2017... I have talked to them a couple of times..earlier they agreed... But nowadays a bit reluctant. These relatives have been trying to get every little bit of info from my grandparents, siblings and whoever they can talk to...
  • relatives k andar aag lag jaati hai ki kahin select ho gaya to bahut aage nikal jayega humse..isliye unki fati rehti hai

    beware of them...prep in secrecy..
    Aap sahi keh raho ho... That's why i asked them not to reveal but ab mujh pe gussa krne lage hain :(
  • Don't worry, with time you will develop a thick skin and learn to ignore them. This is a usual problem faced by most of the aspirant. So you are not alone.
    Hmm... I dont care about what they say/think... Just want my parents on my side
  • Hi friends,
    Ever since I quite my job to prepare for civils, relatives have become rather inquisitive regarding me. I have requested my parents not to tell them that I am preparing and say that I am continuing as before, but everytime they talk/meet them, they'll try to ask about me. Living outside of home has become expensive so that option isnt available. My parents arent willing to continue saying that I am still working but if they do tell them, even the days of results would become a nightmare as has been the case during my board exams as well as those of my siblings. So I do not want them to mention this. This has become a constant source of arguments among ourselves and adding to the uncertainty of the exam, it is a bane while at home.

    It is always the best idea to ignore the naysayers but when they start influencing your only support system i. e. family and parents, life becomes a living hell.

    What ways did u guys employ/are still employing to keep such nuisance at bay?
    Feeling sad :'(
    okay so i have a first hand experience of these incidents you have mentioned, and relatives are a pain in the ass to be brutally honest! Since the day I started preparing the people who were interested in my life more than ever were my relatives. For them I never existed in the first place or they dont even know what specialisation I did in graduation. they keep on taunting that shaadi karlo, job karlo, bache karlo. (mujhe toh lagta hay relatives ka murder karlo). over the years my parents made peace with me that my aim and ambition is more important than the awesome relatives and the samaaaj! So they handle the relatives at their level. When relatives come home they say I aint around or i just came back from holidays or whatever. I know some parents will be like "tumhare chakkar me hum kithna jhoot bolenge" , but its important for us to be happy, rather than pleasing some random person right?
    Things which I did which turned out okay for me where I stay in my room and have told my parents to tell my relatives that I am doing Post Graduation. If you want you can say you are working from home to your relatives. I spend most of the time in a library itself. I know moving out will be definitely expensive. SO i would not suggest you to do that.
    Thank you so much @crystalheart... I was feeling depressed and teary-eyed after today's incident... Your comment gave me hope in the darkest of times... Really appreciate it... God bless you :)
  • relatives k andar aag lag jaati hai ki kahin select ho gaya to bahut aage nikal jayega humse..isliye unki fati rehti hai

    beware of them...prep in secrecy..
    Aap sahi keh raho ho... That's why i asked them not to reveal but ab mujh pe gussa krne lage hain :(
    parents to gussa karenge hi..failure kise psand hai

    tumhara bhi optional philo hai kya
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