Getting rid of houseguests
It’s that time of the week again: your turn! I hope you’ll speak up about what you would do in the following situation; don’t be shy! Please leave your solution in the comments.
Here is this week’s situation:
You carefully read these entries on how to be a good host, and planned for the arrival of your guests. Since their arrival, you have taken time off from work to entertain them, and you provided them with the means to access activities they might enjoy on their own when you are not around. You’ve opened your home to them and invited them to use it as they would like. The problem: you have been too kind, too welcoming. Despite starting off as guests who followed the rules (at least initially) and:
- told you when they were coming
- …and when they were leaving
- came bearing gifts
- came with enough money to take care of your own
- came ready to follow the house rules
your guests have developed an inclination to say on, indefinitely, while you have tired of their stay, the constant need to clean up the house more regularly than you normally would, and entertain guests who have begun to complain that they are bored (clearly we are not talking about guests who visit for the evening and linger). When you ask them when they will be leaving, they tell you that they seldom see you and are so happy that they can spend this time with you. You are even asked jokingly if you’re trying to get rid of them, something you deny automatically, although it is true.
So, how do you get rid of your unwelcome guests? Does the fact that they are family change the way you would deal with them compared to if they were good friends?
unwelcome guests, guests house guests
October 12th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Hehe. Well, you could use my technique and not invite them over in the first place.
I also like to point at my doormat that says “LEAVE” and say, “that means you”. They think I’m joking, ….. 
October 12th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Leave for a mini-vacation.
“Hey, hate to do this to you, but *significant other/bestfriend/daughter* and I have planned a mini-vacation. We’re going to be closing & locking up the house on *this date/time* and have been so happy to have you here!”
I hate confrontation but have had to do this, and had it work a-okay before!
October 13th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
I want to lie here and say something really, really phenomenal that makes me sound like a wonderfully assertive, yet polite and thoughtful human being.
But you know that would be a lie.
I’m passive. I’d let them wreak havoc on my house, torment my cat, and hassle me about my lifestyle until I was ready to kill someone.
And then I’d pack up my cat and go stay at Joomy’s house.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
try the “get the hell out!” t-shirt