Polite bean-dip for polite inquiries?

[JeseC]

I get the idea of bean-dipping when someone's been rude.  But what about areas where the question itself is completely innocent, merely becoming difficult or awkward because of factors the other person doesn't know about?  I've had this happen a lot with my family.  The situation is a mess.  This means holidays or times when I'm flying home can be a veritable cornucopia of awkward conversations that I don't really want to have, set off by polite inquiries like "Aren't you looking forward to spending time with your mother?  You two should go out for dinner or something!"

[Rhindle]

Just using your example sentence, I'd say something like "Yeah, eating out at restaurants is pretty fun. What's the best restaurant you've ever been to?" Would that work?

[Luci45]

Most of our family members truly understand "I would rather not discuss that right now".

I guess our families are weird in the non-pushy way.

We just recently had a  situation that was not ready to be discussed, and the slight brush-off, casual comment took care of the questions. The problem has become common knowledge now, so they know that in the long run all the questions have been answered.

We feel that way, too. We are now the older generation, very close, and are just preparing for the new 4th generation.

[Piratelvr1121]

Yeah I'd agree something like that would work out. 

Like if someone had said "Well is your family coming out for the baptism?" I'd say "Well yes, my in-laws, my brother and his girlfriend, and my best friend will be there, I can't wait!" To me that is my family so it's not a lie and I don't have to go into the sticky business of why my parents aren't invited.

[BeagleMommy]

If someone asks about you spending time with your mother could you try "Well, we haven't made any plans yet.  We'll see what happens."?

[JeseC]

Most of our family members truly understand "I would rather not discuss that right now".

I guess our families are weird in the non-pushy way.

We just recently had a  situation that was not ready to be discussed, and the slight brush-off, casual comment took care of the questions. The problem has become common knowledge now, so they know that in the long run all the questions have been answered.

We feel that way, too. We are now the older generation, very close, and are just preparing for the new 4th generation.

I get that!  The hard part can be when not saying something (or at least, saying you don't want to talk about it) is effectively saying something.  I may not always want it public knowledge that various issues are going on, especially when I'm dealing with an acquaintance making small talk rather than a good friend.  This can be anything from family issues to relationship issues - I've had another case where someone quite innocently starts gushing on at me about aren't I excited to be in a field with all these men and it must be nice to have such a wide field to choose from?  Truth is, I'm gay and not completely open about it!