When I was growing up I was a lonley child. Never allowed to have people for tea/sleep over and our home was like a show house. I remember thinking if I have a family I don't want this life for my children. My husband and I both wanted a big family and were lucky enough to have 4 children. We have an open door policy, sleepovers every weekend and there is always extra food for friends for tea any night. We have a second hand sofa so its not the end of the world if one of the little ones spills something and we don't have expensive furniture and decore as we agreed there was time for that when the children were older. Just now we want the children to feel very comfortable in their own home. We still have rules about respect, tidying toys aways, bedrooms tidy as possible. So thats our life.
A couple of days ago our eldest son had a friend round who brought a friend of his, they stayed for the afternoon. When they were leaving one of my other ds were coming home and our guest who were leaving did not see him. He came in and told me my ds friend said isn't their house messy, oh yes ds friend said its always like that.
Maybe I am over reacting but I feel really upset. I try really hard to stay on top of the house but working full time and all the visitors I suppose does take its toll on the condition of the house. I actually felt like crying, infact tears came into my eyes. My children's friends spend so much time in our home. We don't have a limit on friends round although the numbers normally work out as reasonable but have I got this all wrong??
I prob am over reacting but would really like a virtual hug from Mum's of larger families