Single too long?

My mother called me once. After the usual conversation with me asking for money. She of course told me we'd discus it, hopefully that results in my bank account growing. the call began with me asking what the balance of my credit card was currently, I intended to buy groceries, or something along those lines. The song and dance of getting money out of my family always involves an update on my life a negotiation, then we hang up they make their decision and sometimes give me the cash.


Unfortunately the record skipped, my mother asked me simply why I was single.

She was intruiged as to why I thought it was acceptable to be 20 years old and still single. She harped on the fact thatI needed to learn how to be in a relationship so that I don't turn 50 and just completely F*cked up and be useless. Being that I'm quick witted, I was able to switch gears quickly and turn it back on her.

I told Mother Dearest that I was simply too cool to put up with anyone else right now, and I'm not healthy enough to date currently but maybe soon. Getting her to see my side wasn't enough thought I had to make her feel guilty. I laid into her asking why she thought that I needed to date, of course not forgetting to say "Thanks for lying to me all these years. You spent so much time saying 'you're so awesome by yourself," etc, etc and not forgoing any of the self-esteem boosting crap she tried to feed me in high school. Which was now coming back to me, it was really funny for 19 years I was 100% complete with myself, but I turned 20 and suddenly I'm less than that. Now unless I'm willing to give up my independence and get myself one of those unhealthy co-dependent freak shows; er... relationships, I will forever be deminishing in how much of myself there is.

I come up with a response when people ask what my relationship status. I'm in a committed single situation. I'm not always faithful to myself, but I've found that it's easy to forgive myself.