To think it’s rude not to wave your guests goodbye?

Always waved off by my parents and we (me and my sisters) beep beep as we turn the corner. Our parents would do the same beep beep as they drove away from our homes. It’s such a family tradition that when Dad died, we asked the undertakers if they would beep beep as they drove him away to the chapel of rest. They drove off very slowly and respectfully as we stood at the bottom of the drive and beep beeped on the corner - it is the most comforting memory of the day he died for all of us.

I always wave close friends and family off and my adult children now beep beep as they drive away if going on a long journey. I like the tradition. I remember finding it very odd when visiting my husband’s parents and they would say goodbye at the door and have the door closed behind them before we had even started the engine! It makes you feel like you’ve been keeping them from something and they don’t care that you are leaving!

I don't do it precisely because I hate it when others stay and wave me off.

My grandparents always did it and my parents still do it. I really wish they wouldn't, as others have said I then feel under pressure to immediately drive off when what I really want to do is spend a few minutes setting up a podcast to listen to, checking Google maps, sorting out DDs etc but can't because I feel guilty for faffing when someone is waiting on the doorstep 😂.

So I don't subject others to it. I say goodbye, give them a big hug and then close the door.

because when you have a bunch of small, hyper/tired/sugar buzzing kids to get into a car and settled for the drive home it’s a bit stressful. One of mine always used to cry leaving friends/families places (he’s autistic and transitions are hard for him) another would be desperate to leave ,bouncing with anticipation (also autistic) and that’s hard enough without someone watching you. I appreciate that’s not the case for everyone but it can’t be that hard to realise that for some people it IS difficult. Driving round the corner and stopping again would cause carnage in my car, so best avoided.

I'm with you OP..... feel a bit offended if I'm not waved off lol

I always see guests to door and just wait a few minutes whilst they get into car (on our drive) then I head back inside. Used to get waved off by my parents but now they are too old to do that but I still beep the horn when I leave them (they still live remotely and I probably won’t do that when they move shortly into town!). I think it’s really sweet and reminds me of my grandparents and parents.

Oh gosh. I don't mean to be rude or unkind but honestly, sometimes it seems as if people are looking for something to be offended or upset about. It certainly wouldn't occur to me be offended if I didn't get waved off... and I do it sometimes and not others. Depends on the person, situation, conversation, situation, weather etc. I'm pretty sure it's not some recognised form of British etiquette to get ones knickers in a knot over

lol I don’t like to stand at the door cold gets in and I normally look disheveled by the time guests leave. My toddler however will stand at the door waving a shouting ‘bye’

My paternal grandparents always did this (and I remember my mum hated it) but I’ve never known anyone else do it. Thought it was just a quirk of my grandparents.

Yes exactly this - and even if I look to be "checking my phone" I'm probably putting audiobook or music on for DC, setting Google Maps etc.

I don't know why anyone would find that rude! I'm not forcing you to stand there while I faff!

MIL does this. And if she's taken me anywhere and drops me off at home, I have wait outside while she drives up the road and turns the car round so that I'm still stood there ready to wave when she comes back past me.
The other week we were at her house and my adult DD was there too. DD left before the rest of us and MIL sent me outside to wave her off. DD's there saying "Go inside, this is embarrassing" and I'm saying "I can't- your Grandma won't let me!" 😂

Tatty bye @Greywitch2 still in use, from London, now in Cornwall.
I think it was a Ken Dodd thing but off the top of head also might be a corruption of TTFN, which was a WW2 thing, from the comedy programme ITMA.
Nothing new on the planet, ROFL.

Most of my friends and family use Google Maps or Waze even for familiar journeys for live traffic, speed cameras etc. Amazed you've not come across this.

Would also add that I associate this way of saying goodbye with grandparents (all but one have passed) so I don’t feel particularly bothered by it, it just reminds me of them. I think it’s sweet but I wouldn’t mind if anyone didn’t want to wave

Fond memories of driving away from my grandparents and them waving and shouting tatty bye.

@BooBooDoodle Tatty bye! Goodness, no one has said tatty bye to me since my grandad died. That takes me back. Are you Northern too? Is it regional or is it just old fashioned do you think?

I am in my 70s and always used to wave goodbye and not shut the front door until they were out of sight. Now my grandchildren insist on waving and shouting “Bye Nanna” through the open windows! Half of me loves it and the other half is well aware that all my neighbours know my family is leaving!
Does it matter if somebody is waving goodbye? Does it really impact on the visitors life to spend a few seconds waving goodbye? How can anybody be irritated by this? If visitors really have so much to do before they can actually start the journey, just drive round the corner. But dear god, I can get in my car and drive away - how can any visitor make a drama out of this.

I grew up with this too and do this myself, I’m in my early 30s! 😳I’m not bothered if people don’t do it and I don’t always but I didn’t know it annoyed so many people!

I see my guests to the door. I’m 53. Size 7 shoe 😂

My mum does this! My nanna did it too.

I find it makes me feel I have to rush getting the kids in the car seats, and be instantly engine running and set off, waving as I go. I'm not a fan. When guests leave mine I thank them for coming at the door, say goodbye and close the door. I don't get it. Plus I'm usually very aware of the heating escaping, the indoor cat escaping, mischievous child messing about etc.

I’ve enjoyed reading all these replies on this thread and pleased to see I’m not the only one this pi**es off.

my mum is the only one I know who does this - she walks us to the car and practically breathes down my neck whilst I’m trying to get DC in the car. She has no idea how to do car seats (and won’t even let me show her how…!) and she will proceed to pick at things as no doubt DC are kicking off being put into car seats and I’m ‘not doing it right they shouldn’t be upset, you were never like this when you were kids’ whilst unnervingly watching me. She will then after I ask multiple times to leave us be, walk to the end of her drive and wave and shout on the top of her lungs for the whole street to see (come rain or shine) it’s like a facade if you ask me so her neighbours can see she’s had visitors. She’s not like that in the house lol. I ask every time she says her goodbyes at the door, she says ok and follows us all out.

Lots of other people in my life including my dad will watch me off (divorced parents) but as I get to the car he shouts bye and shuts the door. I toot as I reverse away (he bought land to build his house so noise isn’t a problem to those of you saying about tooting 😂) as I know he loves it but he doesn’t stand outside, and as others have said sometimes he will say ‘sorry love I’m not coming out today’. Others in my family/friend unit are like this or don’t come to the door.

It’s a personal choice but I hate it when people do it to me. My cousin, who is the loveliest sweetest person in the world, does it whenever she sees me off on the train after a visit. I just want to get into my seat and breathe a sigh of relief at finally getting some me time after a hectic weekend of socialising, but I can’t relax with her hovering outside the window trying to gesture things at me, even though she means well!

It’s got absolutely nothing to do with respect or manners. Jeeze. It’s YOUR customary practice. Doesn’t make it good manners or respectful.

YABU. It’s not rude in any capacity. Can’t imagine my life having so little meaning I’d worry about this. In fact it’s absolutely bizarre.
i usually say good bye at the door and when they’re down the garden path I shut the door. Good friends and family usually see themselves out - as i do at theirs.

My husband insists on doing this, but I find it pretty annoying. We generally have lots of visitors in winter and it lets all the heat out of the house as he stands there waving for ages. I’ve tried to convince him to at least wave from the window, so the door can stay closed.

I quite like it when my dad does this as he lives in the arse end of Norfolk, but otherwise, no

Fond memories of driving away from my grandparents and them waving and shouting tatty bye. Whenever I’m leaving my parents or in laws I still wave and even horn pip, kids wave too. I think it’s polite. Unfortunately people have very little respect, manners or time these days to issue such a kind and well meaning gesture, how is it offensive? Dear god. Maybe for these arses a middle finger would be better suited than a wave?