Tired of being the "Hangout House"
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| Wed, 11-01-2006 - 11:03am |
I know....I know.....I should count my blessings that DD and her bf and friends feel very comfortable at our house and are there where we can keep an eye on them. But they are there ALL THE TIME that I feel like I'm starting to trip over them!!
When I grew up I never hung at my house because my mother didn't like people in her house, eating her food and leaving crumbs on her counter and it always made me feel uncomfortable. My dh's house was just the opposite and I would just walk right in and make myself at home and I loved that. And that's what I wanted for my DD. And that's waht we've got so what am I complaining about?!
I know so many parents wish they had this problem but I guess that old saying, "the grass is greener on the older side", once again rings true. I'm just getting a little tired of being eaten out of house and home and constantly lecturing them on picking up after themselves. Sometimes after they have had a night of popcorn and a movie it looks like a tornado hit!! Soda cans and wrappers everywhere in the downstairs family room. I tend to just shut the door and wait for DD to arise the following morning to clean it up but she never seems to make it down there in enough time to suit me and it bugs me to no end!
Well last night, being Halloween, they all dressed up at my house, using both bathrooms, DD's bedroom and the den leaving trails of themselves everywhere rushing out the door to go eat at a restaurant, came back to our house and watched a scary movie so the family room once again looks trashed today.
I have spoken to them in the past so they know the rules and they do better for a while after they receive a lecture from me but it doesn't last long. Any suggestions as to how to deal with this?? Or should I just continue to count my blessings, hold my breath and count to ten??

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We've usually been the hang out house too, and I'm also with the "count your blessings" group.
Ten might not be far enough...lol.
Seriously, I wish my house WERE the hangout house, so I'd know these kids a bit better. BUT my DD tells me that our house is no fun, she's always wanting to go to other kids' homes where the parents are not home or don't check on the kids. I'm observant, and we don't keep any booze in the house either.
I'd be willing to pick up the mess, personally, to know who my kid is with and where she is.
But I do hear how frustrating it is to feel like you're being taken advantage of. Perhaps you could hire a cleaning service on Saturday mornings and present them with a bill to share?
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