How would you greet your child's university friends visiting for the weekend?

[Bellavida99]

My eldest brought 3 uni mates home for the weekend. I realised they all greeted me differently. Lad one gave a formal handshake, lad 2 raised hand in a wave and said hi, lad 3 hugged me. All those greetings seemed right at the time (they all arrived individually) I now can’t think which would be the correct way to greet them - a handshake I guess but seems a bit formal for 20 year old lads.

Probably a wave and ‘Hi, nice to meet you’ first time I met them. Subsequent times would be a brief hug.

I don't think there is a "correct" way - I would just be led by them.

Some of dd's friends are very huggy, and I would greet those friends with a hug. Others would probably rather stick a pin in their eyes than hug someone they don't know well, so I would just smile and say hello.

A handshake for dd's friends would seem a bit too formal for me, but of course, I would reciprocate if they initiated.

Best not to overthink it and just go with the flow. As long as you're generally warm and welcoming, it really doesn't matter!

As host, your role is to make your guests feel comfortable and welcome, so a good rule is to mirror how they greet you (as long as this doesn't cross any personal boundaries) - it sounds as though that's just what you did, so you handled it really well.

Thanks yes that must be what happened for me to have greeted them all so differently i just went with what they did I guess - I hadn’t thought of that

Just as @DisrobeDatrobe has said, mirror their greeting to you.
we’ve been the ‘hang-out house’ for my DSC for about 8yrs and their friends are all so different, some are huggy and affectionate and will sit in the kitchen for ages telling me about what they’re up to… others are more “Thank you Mrs Patterson!” Before shuffling off looking at the floor!

There's no correct way just whatever happens naturally.

All are acceptable

I'd be impressed by all 3 tbh

I'm not a huggy person, except with my own family, so I would be uncomfortable with hugs. I generally go with a big smile and a wave. Acknowledging their presence and that I'm glad to see them, but not going further than that. I would be surprised by a handshake but it's fine.

I would be led by them. I met dc1's friend (uni student) last week and he shook my hand. My youngest (12) is a hugger but none of my dc friends have ever hugged me. MIL hugs most of dc friends despite me telling her not to. She is also quite over the top generally, saying things like "oh we ADORE Dylan/Harry/Evie/Amelia, they are amazing" while I say "um, you've only met them once". Also "that Lewis/Alex/Lily/Grace is awful, you should be telling dc not to be friends with them" when she has only met them once.

Ahhh I love the lad that hugged you!!

Just a “hi how are you” I think, a hug seems excessive and a handshake too formal!

There's no right way. Just whatever you both feel comfortable with at the time. I have a son and daughter both now in early teens. Think I've had handshakes from the boys and hugs from the girls and just a hello/wave from both.

All of these options are fine. I’m not a big hugger so usually just say hello and have a friendly chat.

I’d be led by them, and what they’re comfortable with. Just a ‘Hello, so-and-so, nice to meet you,’ will probably usually do.

Would just add that before bringing a male uni friend home for the first time, dd imformed me later that she’d told him, ‘You’ll have to pretend to like our dog, or my Mum’ll hate you!’ 🐶😂

I now can’t think which would be the correct way to greet them
Why do you think there is a correct way? Just carry on doing whatever comes naturally with individuals. Why would you want an etiquette guide to make what sounds like a perfectly nice and comfortable set of interactions something constrained by invented rules?