This past January my NVM dad brutally attacked me and I have since cut off ties with him and his pickme wife. There is a long history of abuse in my family (the cycle ends with me!) that I’d rather not share or allude to on my dates with men.

Since family/upbringing is an inevitable topic of conversation, how do I answer questions about family dynamics without revealing just how awful and abusive they were? I want my answer to be honest but distant, yet conclusive.

I recently stepped into the dating scene but it’s starting to feel like I can’t date until my parents die because I would never want a partner to meet them nor would I want those lunatics at my wedding if I ever got married. Not to get ahead of myself, but these are worthy considerations that also cross my mind.

I also realize it puts me in a compromising position to ever tell a partner the full truth about my family history, so I want to protect myself by exuding an air of having healthy boundaries.