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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About people being early...

70 replies

Tutteredboast · 28/11/2014 21:03

Have a relative calling later who I know will be early. It's fine today as I am anticipating it and have time, so will be ready, but it got me thinking.
Why are some people always early? I don't mean for a doctors appt, or a job interview, which is fine. I mean calling round socially.
DM is always early and can be sniffy if I'm not ready. It always makes me stressed.
Anyone else have this? Or are you an early person?

OP posts:
Memphisbelly · 28/11/2014 21:07

Yes also drives me mad, FIL turns up early on a Sunday morning and looks at me gone out when I am not dressed, even when we say do not come before 9am he appears early.

Used to be worse 7am on a sunday morning until I put my foot down. He also used to call up and ask if we were up for a visit anf thrn while he was still on phone knock the door! Shock

Luckily apart from IL's no one turns up here early (for fear of my wrath I imagine Grin)

wheresthelight · 28/11/2014 21:08

I would rather people were early than late to be honest

ThursdayLast · 28/11/2014 21:08

It would drive me mad too. Not as bad as being late though, I can't bear that.

I'm always embarrassingly right on time. Always makes me feel like such a nerd.

nancy75 · 28/11/2014 21:12

I am often early because I can not be late. If I am going to a persons house I will often wait in the car outside rather than actually going in.

I hate being late and strongly dislike lateness in others

Original poster
Tutteredboast · 28/11/2014 21:12

Right on time is perfect IMO.
7am, Memphis, that's terrible!!!

OP posts:
usualsuspect333 · 28/11/2014 21:13

I'm often early. I can't help it, being late makes me stressed.

GraceFox · 28/11/2014 21:14

Who wants visitors 7am on a Sunday?!

Actually 9am is far too early too...

MoonAndBackAgain · 28/11/2014 21:15

I am guilty of this, I am always early but I suffer with anxiety and get really panicky about being on time.

Everyone has been fine about it and if they are not ready I usually just watch some TV or play with the dog until they are.

ThursdayLast · 28/11/2014 21:16

Well I hope we're friends then tut!

I have a friend who is always where we say we're going to be earlier than me. She's the only person I know who seems to give a shit.

Memphisbelly · 28/11/2014 21:18

Glad you see my point about that early on a Sunday Grin ...apparently I am unreasonable for not being the perfect host at that time.

sillymillyb · 28/11/2014 21:20

I'm sorry, I am always early, I can't help it - being late gives me the fear.

If we were meeting at 2pm, and I was there after 1:50, I'd be panicking. In my head it's always the time minus 10 mins. I sit in the car till that point Grin

cinders456 · 28/11/2014 21:21

My family are notoriously late and dh and his family are guaranteed to be early, which really grates on me! Equally, it winds him up that we're a late bunch. Match made in heaven! ;)

nancy75 · 28/11/2014 21:36

sillymillyb - I feel exactly the same, if I am not 10 minutes early I feel like I am late!

sillymillyb · 28/11/2014 21:42

High fives nancy Grin

Jcee · 28/11/2014 21:44

I agree that right on time is perfect. Turning up too early (especially to someone's house) is as bad as turning up late IMO.

PIL do this, we recently invited them round for lunch at 1 and they turned up at 11.45 because they were ready and there's no point in hanging about waiting to go at the right time...Hmm

alemci · 28/11/2014 21:49

in laws are like this. I find it very irritating. to me it's because they have nothing better to do.

lavenderhoney · 28/11/2014 21:49

My mil used to turn up too early until she burst on and I was ironing in my pants. And I didn't panic. " gosh you're early mil. Fancy getting the Hoover out? Ooh- pass me that sheet would you?"

She was always on time after that. And always knocked and waited:)

ireallydontlikemonday · 28/11/2014 21:52

Late is worse.

Memphisbelly · 28/11/2014 21:54

Lavenderhoney I need to do that if it will stop my inlaws just appearing Grin

BlueGreenHazelGreen · 28/11/2014 21:57

I hate people who arrive at my house early. If you arrive on time, I'll be ready and smiling. If you arrive early I'm probably not dressed yet and will be embarrassed & and annoyed.

Meeting in a public place? Be as early as you like. At my house? Park up the road a bit out if sight until you are on time.

WerewolfBarMitzvah · 28/11/2014 21:58

Ha lavender that's one way of getting through to people!

Everyone in our family is always late. I'm an on-timer. The one time we turned up 20 minutes late to PILs due to unforeseen circumstances, we got such a hard time! We had texted. Grr. Residual rage.

ThursdayLast · 28/11/2014 21:59

My in laws don't bother to specify a time. Or knock. Angry

iamthenewgirl · 28/11/2014 21:59

10 minutes before is okay.

Mind you, we had friends come for lunch and they were 1.5 hours early! No make up on and hair standing on end trying to cook. Was quite annoyed. That's rude in my opinion.

spiderlight · 28/11/2014 22:00

We once arrived to stay with the inlaws a whole day early - now that was embarrassing!

BalconyBill · 28/11/2014 22:04

Being early is incredibly rude! It has so much potential to inconvenience people. I would much rather people were 'late'. In fact, nobody is actually late until about 30 minutes after the agreed time and then it is a cause for concern not a 'you are so rude and don't respect me' situation.