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

Oh heck, no. I hate people standing there for ages. It makes me feel really rushed. In some cases I have driven half a mile down the road, stopped, and sorted myself out before heading off properly.

I use my satnav on most journeys, it alerts me if there's traffic on the usual route or a collision etc. Twice in the last week, it's warned me about congestion and redirected me to save me time on my journey. A few weeks ago there was an unexpected road closure (storm damage or sorts I think) and the diversion hadn't been set up as I drove through. Luckily I had satnav running so I was directed home without issue.

I'm not a confident driver and live over an hour away from my family. It's a long journey for me to focus on but too short to stop. I feel much calmer and relaxed driving if I know I won't be pestered for water or suddenly forget where I'm going. This is just me though, I understand that some people just hop in the car and are off with no drama.

Very old fashioned, my grandparents are the only people I knew who ever did this.
I would absolutely hate it now, I get in the car and sometimes check my messages, set my sat nav, out the right music on, it can be a couple of minutes before I drive away. It would be very uncomfortable if someone was stood waving me off for that time.

I think it's more of a parents who love you thing. Parents who've enjoyed your visit, are sad that you're going, and who want to make the visit last until the last seconds.

No I hate it. My Mother In Law was one for doing this and even worse waved a white handkerchief until we could no longer see her in the rear view mirror. 🙄

... and rather than recognising that, @Lou670 just rolled her eyes. I hope my kids and their partners don't.

I do. Not only do I wave them off, I run down the road around 20 yards from the driveway, waving til they disappear from the end of the road and turn onto the main road! 👋

Perhaps I should stop.

I remember my great grandmother doing a really performative version of this, with handkerchiefs and weeping! She was great fun really, but she made a big fuss of goodbyes. I hadn't thought about it recently, but I suppose it is quite old fashioned!

No I walk them to the door, say thank you for coming and then as they walk off I shut the door.

I’ll wave at the door but no way am I walking them to their car, unless I wanted to continue to chat or it was on the way to the shops or something.

Unless you are going on a long journey to a place you haven't been to before there's no need for drinks and satnavs.
Most journeys aren't long drives into the unknown.

God, this is a great story!

Especially when leaving in laws or parents 😂 You would think they would know how to get home.

How come? What’s surprising?

Oh, I was also brought up like this and I'm not old! I have picked up on people not liking it much for all the reasons people have outlined here, which I totally get, and my house is tricky to get out of and into the road and I don't want people to feel watched so I rarely do a full wait now, but I do like a good door wave for a little bit!

I usually make my (unnecessary) excuses as they leave saying something like "I won't stand over you as you leave but lovely to see you!" or "are you OK getting out or would you like a hand?" and we then do a little dance where they sing something like, "no, don't stand on the doorstep getting cold!" and we all part having observed the social niceties and acknowledging that we all know we were brought up to know it's polite to wave off but are all agreeing to dispense with the tradition. It's mad, really, but I do like the ritual!

I' m really surprised at the number of people who have to ,sort out their sat nav and give the kids drinks before they set off!

I hate this as a guest it makes me feel so rushed, just go inside

My mum (mid 60s) comments that I am rude if I don’t do this; and she will always do it when I leave hers. I find it so awkward when someone stands silently waving, especially if it’s an awkward drive and it takes a few manoeuvres to get out of there, I’d rather just a kiss goodbye at the door then close it and let me get on with leaving. This is what I do, but she finds it rude!

An elderly couple live over the road from me , and the lady never walks out of the house, only stands in the open doorway.
Her husband does all the coming and going, and the lady waves him off the drive every single time, and doesn’t shut the door until he has driven down the road.
Even if he only goes out for 10 minutes. I first noticed it during lockdown when we were all stuck at home looking out of the window for entertainment, and have observed it ever since on numerous occasions.

I like it generally and still do it when possible - it's just when you're child wrangling or sorting the Satnav etc!

My DP stand on the pavement and wave enthusiastically til I've gone, and I love it .. I'm 48.

My father in law does this every. Single. Time. Whenever we visit, we tend to want to make sure we have everything, make sure baby is safely fastened in, have a moment before we set off but you feel like you have to race off he’s just there in the doorway watching, waiting to start waving and calling out to be careful as the road is busy (it isn’t particularly). I love my FIL very much but having him lurk in the doorway is just disconcerting. My parents are the same, I think it’s more of an old-fashioned thing.

I've noticed English people don't do goodbyes (or hellos for that matter) as fully as other cultures. Not sure why.

Ooh!

I'm curious to know what a full hello/goodbye is!

@Ohnodontwantthiscrush so lovely!
My kids used to run down our street next to the departing car too. Sigh, good times....

Parting is special and should be marked!

It's bad enough leaving a party by having to traipse round every guest, let alone being made to hurry up on the doorstep whilst MIL tries to make me wear a coat in the car and FIL commentates on manoeuvring off their awkward drive.

Omg my nan used to do this... The road off was very long and straight, but I always remember waving until out of sight. I loved it.

My MIL took it one step further in that once I was in the driving seat of the car she'd slam the car door shut for me, this I didn't like!!! Once I was not ready and the door caught my wrist funny, or she didn't push with enough force and would have to re-open the door to re-shut again. Let me close my own car door please! Or they'd give instructions how to reverse out of the spot. 🙄

I always do this at the door at least, 50/50 on the drive for formal wave-off. And get the kids back if they've disappeared to say goodbye.

I've noticed English people don't do goodbyes (or hellos for that matter) as fully as other cultures. Not sure why.