Christmas hospitality fail

[Flippertyjibbetty]

Just posted this in antenatal thread I'm on but posting here so that anyone who worries about being insufficiently welcoming over the xmas period can not feel so bad.

I'm a week or so off due date. Very immobile due to spd. Been spending last couple of hours making beds and doing laundry in anticipation of people arriving today. DH with first friend to arrive, his phone is dead.

MIL and her friend (who are staying for xmas) just turned up and starting buzzing doorbell. I wasn't expecting them so early. I struggled down stairs thinking it a delivery and she had her face pressed to window looking in. I shouldn't have opened the door should have hid until they went away and came back...

But I did open the door and just blurted out I'm not ready for you please go to the pub and have a drink I'm not ready for you you're early and just closed the door and locked it.

Not even sure I said please.

Feeling of white hot shame on my face. I know I was U but all I could think was I haven't cleaned the loo there is still bedding all over the landing and I need to deal w the laundry and I can't make them a cup of tea and waddle around and my face is all sweaty and hair frizzy and I actually smell right now...aargh.

So if you feel you're not being as hospitable as you should, be thankful you didn't just slam the door in two pensioners faces on xmas eve...

@Imthechristmascarcass- i hadn't thought about that. Silver lining- she'll make the effort to text in future!

Thanks for xmas indulgence kind posters. To the extent that we are hosting at a not ideal time, no one else is able to- all the people invited live in rented rooms or have hoarding issues! So being charitable and welcoming was the intention but have entirely brought it on ourselves!

My lovely sister and BIL are going to be on hand tomorrow to help and my DH is handling all the cooking so will be relaxed from this point on!

OP as someone who experienced very similar and let them in because I was caught on the hop,WELL BLOODY DONE! I'm still annoyed at myself(and them) for it happening.

I'm not regretting it anymore as the MIL's friend just got his guitar out despite the fact that we're watching telly after our meal out and he is tone deaf.

He just sings in the snatches of different languages that he thinks he knows the same choruses/ verses etc that he remembers.

Only way we're getting any peace is to keep giving him clementines. Can't play while he's peeling fruit...

That's the kind of thing I would only dream of doing, so I applaud your hormonal rage! Id end up letting then in and working myself into a seething rage. Glad it didn't kick off!
Merry Christmas op, hope the next week brings you lots of rest before your baby gets here!

Can't play while he's peeling fruit...
I HATE early guests; you are my hero!

Take his guitar, give him it significant look and smash the fucking thing on the floor, all whilst still staring at him. You may need to get DH to do this if you’re having issues bending.

Oh God! The amateur guitar musician!!!! We have a friend like that, but it's confined to camping trips and campfires. Will play and sing a few bars or 1/2 of a song then move on to different songs. Loudly. Until all hours. Ugh!

This made me laugh so much. Well done OP!

I did have to laugh at this one, though if I was in that situation I'd have been tempted to exploit them for the free labour using a pregnancy related excuse ("oh how lovely to see you, do come in, I wasn't expecting you so early, baby's kicking and I've got backache, would you mind giving me a hand with making the beds up / peeling the spuds?"

please keepupdting t

I just was not quick thinking enough to think of the potential help with housework! A missed opportunity- but I was overcome with mortification at my physical state- was wearing a dress with slits up the side and very conscious that given (a)spd, (b) winter and living in jeans/leggings/opaque tights and ( c) relaxed personal standards when it comes to hairiness that if they had looked closely they would have seen how lush and bountiful pregnancy had made my leg hair and that I've made no attempt to control it in weeks/months. I look like I am sporting chewbacca leggings at all times.

Combined with an old moth eaten jumper of DH's over the top which was straining to take the 9m belly. Hair and face of a person who had given up on society (until yesterday I had been in bed sick for most of the week) and struggling with blow up bed and sheets sweatiness to match. It was a strong look.

I managed to escape the guitar playing and Bob Dylan in a wind tunnel crooning by claiming I had presents to wrap and slunk off to bed. DH knew exactly what I was doing but didn't rat me out. I figured I needed a decent night's sleep to face the guitar with serenity tomorrow.

Shelling pistachios/ potato peeling should keep those fingers busy...we have about 6kh of potatoes...and 'oh I need to repack my maternity bag please can you fold up these baby muslins/ check that I've got 50 maternity pads in there'...

@maelstrop - we are low on firewood...

I could use my preg insomnia to loosen a string or two. He'd never know... so long as he doesn't have any spares in the bag...

Sounds like a good plan!

I hate making up beds and I'm not 9 months pregnant.
You should have delegated this to irritating friend of DH, keep him out of the way!

I’ve been asked to do this as a guest- no problem at all. Go away, have a drink for an hour or so, come back to a calmer host! I didn’t know the host (friends of my then partner, I’d never been to their home before) so didn’t feel able to offer to hoover or whatever, if I were you mil I would have done.

QueenofLouisiana- thats reassuring!

DH's mother tends to wake up quite late so I thought I'd have some peace in the morning to start prepping things and set out breakfast etc, start on the stuffing.

The Troubadour is an early riser though, he needed his early morning cigarette (outside!) and then immediately started strumming away.

Irritating friend actually being quite lovely and helpful and showing DH up by jumping when I need something when DH still blearily having toast.

Can't play while he's peeling fruit...
ROTFLMAO
flippery
You are a legend

Glad to have made a few of you laugh :)

I'm honestly not making it up but he suddenly disappeared upstairs earlier and then came back with a sodding harmonica so he could accompany himself on the guitar... when not singing of course.

I was glad that I hadn't sabotaged the strings as BIL actually has a lovely voice and sang a few songs which helped break up the cacophony.

And now food coma is delivering some blissful silence.

Hope everyone is having a lovely day or at least some lovely moments amidst the stress!

Update- we left our house to visit some friends, leaving MIL and friend there, they'll leave in the morning (they didn't want to drive in the rain). DH said goodbye, I was still sorting things in the car. Think they thought I wasn't going to say goodbye, I went back in after feeling that everything was set in the car...to hear MIL and friend bitching about something I had said, MIL in tears and friend tucking into panettone I'd left for them.

Bloody cheek to not even wait until we'd driven off to stick the knife in.

I won't be making the mistake again next year. Ungrateful sods.

Not sure @hesterton. But she had been all smiles moments before waving DH off. Didn't seem very genuine seeing as she's incapable of holding in any emotions- seemed more like self pitying rather than genuine upset.

I don't want to upset an old woman. I wasn't the friendliest over the last couple of days but ffs I'm hobbling around and clearly in discomfort.

You've done wonderfully and it's excellent practice for saying "Fuck off" after the baby is here and you don't want a mariachi band in your house.

@floellabumbags- good point, thanks!

Yes, right now I am very clear that no visitors for first month except for my mum and sister who will actually be helpful and who won't aggravate me/ hold hormones against me.