How to respond nicely to 'when are you having a baby?'

by Champ
(Thailand)

Hey Eunice, it's such a wonderful feeling to read the articles you post. It gives such positive, fresh, rejuvenating feel even at the end of a tiring day. I feel so nice to have come across this site.

I loved the articles on socializing. I need an advice around that. I am married & happy :-), & we have decided not to have family/kids. Well how do you communicate this to people in nicer way as this question keeps coming up no matter what I do, like changing the topic. In our community, it's more important to have kids than to know yourself.

People are more driven by what others do & what will the society say if we don't do this or that. I understand those feelings and I love kids too but right now we have other many things in mind to do. We are ambitious.

My second question is on handling people who always try to compete with what you are doing. For example, in a casual conversation I say to one of my nice friends that "Recently I tried painting and I am loving it..." Before I finished my sentence, my friend says,"I tried all this during childhood days & have done many more". I do not know why people talk that way. Is that natural? It just that it happens frequently. I was quite frustrated and decided to socialize less.

Please guide me in this art of talking / socializing. I have learnt from your articles that we must face the situation & tackle it elegantly than avoid it.

Would really really appreciate if you can help me with this. Thanks so much in advance.