Why am I stressing about this so much???

[MrsSnape]

I have always had "a problem" with the kids bringing friends home for tea. Mainly because I view my house as a pigsty and am embarrassed by it but also because I'm not very authoritive and the kids tend to run riot.

Anyway, not wanting to pass my anti-social attitude onto DS, I am allowing him to have a friend home tonight.

But I'm stressing like mad, hoovering, tidying, ironing, cleaning...and then I get a moment of rational thought and think "why on earth would an 8 year old lad care what state the house is in??" and I feel daft...but then I think "still, mustnt embarrass DS..." and get back to my cleaning and tidying preperation

Please tell me I'm mad and that the lad won't even notice what the house is like...?

You're mad and the lad won't even notice what the house is like

Oooh, stick to inviting boys -- my dd had a friend round the other night who said 'What is all that mess doing on your table?' [Answer: it's probably composting, Rosie dear, think of it as a scientific experiment...]

8 year old boys don't notice anything which doesn't impact on them directly - eg they won't notice a huge pile of washing-up, but they will if you have to rinse out a glass to give them a drink. They won't notice the ironing hasn't been done, or the hoovering or dusting. Because those things are simply not on their radar.

If they can't get to the toys, or sit on the sofa when they want to, they might just notice that, but anything less in the "untidiness" department is just not going to register.

Message withdrawn

It's not the children I worry about who come for tea at our house, it's their parents!

My house is always a tip. We must be doing the same composting experiment on our table, pussinwellies!

Milliec, your post makes me feel better too. I have to agree, that children always seem to love coming. I always thought it was because I am a perfect mother (but obviously not a domestic goddess!