to not want people to wear shoes over my lovely oak floor

[Carameli]

we have since we moved been doing some major renovations to our house. It is now at an end and as we put really nice oak flooring in the living room and dining room we decided to have a no shoes rule in the house. Lots of my friends do this and it works fine.
I also lived in Finland for a few years where it is the norm and expected that you take off your shoes when you go into someone's house.
My stumbling block is my mum and dad who refuse to and have said they will sit in the kitchen rather than take off their shoes.
I love my parents dearly and but feel so upset over this. Have just had an email from my mum saying she does not know when my father will want to visit us again. What am I meant to say. My worry is he comes in with a stone on his shoe and we end up with a big scratch on the wood or I am not ale to invite them over for dinner etc etc(thinking ahead to Christmas etc etc birthdays)

arrrgggg. feel so frustrated.

What is in your front shed that lures you forth so often?

And have you got a back one as well? What is in that?

Oblo - what about these mysterious sheds?

me again, what have I started?
I agree with ScaredOne and lot of others here that since I lived in Finland I find it so much nicer taking my shoes off if I go into someones house, most of the people I know are like this. With regards entering house and going out to shed, garden etc etc I have my boots by the back door for the garden and just slip in and out of them with out a worry. Have other slip on shoes etc by the front door for the same sort of thing.

oh I also have a 1yr old ds2 who is not walking so crawling around.

Unreasonable, if it means you can't allow your parents into your living room until your floor is old enough for you to have stopped being precious about it.

Unless your parents insist in stilettos at all times, I can't see why you're so bothered.

People often start to take their shoes off when they see our wooden floor but I always tell them no need, on the other hand some pals are like me and like to be barefoot.

As long as people feel relaxed and comforable in my house I'm happy, so I have a few scratches

I have a friend who insists all visitors take their shoes off. I like being shoeless but it still makes me uncomfortable to be asked.

But nobody is stopping the parents going anywhere-all they have to do is take their blöödy shoes off!

OP-are they being stubborn to prove a point-eg they are they parents and you can´t tell them what to do?

For the record I do think the OP's parents are being OTT.

do shoes-off people all leave prams, buggies and bikes outside too?

our hallway has all of these so shoes won't make a difference, in fact, i wouldn't risk bare feet in our hallway in case of little stones or sharp things even though i do try to sweep regularly(ish)

our livingroom and bedroom have large rugs which we don't walk on in shoes and keep clean but hallways and porches are different.

What people do in their own home is there own business. Shoes on or shoes off both can be seen as precious if that is your take.
Laughing at those keeping their shoes on as over precious is no more valid than laughing at the clean freak 'don't let dust into my home for fear twill spoil the kitchen floor' types.

But it isn't about that. It is about respecting that other people feel differently and being considerate to that when you invite people you care about into your home.

If I go to someones house and they all take their shoes off then I will either do it too , or ask if they would prefer. Because
if I assume this is someone I like then I try be be a good guest.
But if someone invites me into their home I don't expect them then to tell me, as I cross the threshold with chocolates and wine, what to wear while I am there. That is the bit that is rude.

I agree Pag. Unless it's something a bit saucy, I don't mind then.

I agree with pagwatch - I will follow the rest of the house. I take my shoes off in our house but don't ask guests to. And if I knew my parents were like hers (and yours too by the sounds of things OP), I would insist they keep theirs on. It's all about making your guests feel comfortable

I hate taking my shoes off in other people's houses. I don't carry a pair of slippers around with me, so it means I basically have to go almost bare foot whilst with them. I would do it if asked but would feel uncomfortable. I am not posting this to be confrontational or contrary, just to let all of you know that not everyone thinks it is the social norm to take their shoes off at the threshold.

What about knickers? They're more my kind of event.

fluffles Scooter has a specific space and is not allowed to be used inside. Pushchair is folder, also has a specific space and is not wheeled around inside, I collapse outside my front door.
I hoover every morning so no small stones in hall - but then I live in a tiny flat so the hall is also used for playing. Probably would care less if I had more space.

Your knickers are an event Hully dear? What kind of an event? A grand opening?

Where are all these stones coming from? Why does the OP's dad have this stone on shoe issue?

What about Oblomov's mysterious sheds?

Why are the important questions never addressed?

My Knickers are indeed an event. They have their own niche event market.

Perhaps Oblomovs knickers are stored in her shed?

I am going to start asking people to remove their shoes when they arrive after which I will place them on ebay.

Aren't wood floors meant to be hard-wearing? In can understand no-shoes-on-nice-white-carpet rules. But on a sturdy floor?

Hully, you are on fine form today. I fear DD has had milkshake rather than regular milk, due to the amount of laughing ive done at your comments