Ray and Cali showing us the boats at the Chittenden locks
Today’s tip actually comes from Cali. One day she asked me how to keep from stressing when company comes. I told her the secret is to not mop your floors or knock yourself out cleaning before they get there because you're the only one who knows the difference between extra-clean and clean in your home. Clean is clean enough because people come to see people; otherwise they stay in a motel. I reminded her that when company leaves they will take all the messes with them so not to try and pick up around them while they’re there because everything magically disappears with them. I encouraged her to just relax and enjoy the people and not worry about the stuff.
Now mind you, this tip works well for Cali because she is tidy, tidy, tidy. They don’t wear shoes inside and she likes things really clean (she hovered over her own toilet and wore flip flops in her own shower for several months until they could gut and remodel their bathroom).
A few weeks ago an extra nine of us went to stay with Ray and Cali. They always have a comfortable bed for everyone, nice blankets, clean sheets, and a pantry full of cheese, crackers, salamis, trail mix, ice cream, etc. They have good ideas of things to do and are willing to play lots of games. In short, they are hosts extraordinaire. Cali called a few hours after we left and said, “You’re so right! I didn’t stress once. I didn’t mop the floors or clean extra and no one even noticed. (quick pause) Did you notice? (continuing without missing a beat) And when you guys left so did all the stuff. Having company is so easy now!”
9 comments:
I never thought of it that way. Of course, I'm rarely tidy anymore. I will keep this in mind though as my in-laws are coming next week. :)
I'm keeping this in mind for our 4th of July get-together. Thanks, my favorite Neighbor!
I love this post! McConkie Family Reunion coming soon! I am so going to try and not STRESS!!! Really hard for me. Thank you!!!
Wow! Never thought of it like that. I ALWAYS mop and clean extra before company comes and my husband just doesn't understand that. It comes from my grandma who actually spring cleaned all the time. To the point of the white glove test. Why did I have to inherit that gene? (For the record, I do not do the white glove test. I live on a farm.)
What a great post! I certainly needed to hear that years ago...enjoy the company and not to stress out about the house. Reminds me of when we would take our little 4 day vacation every year with our children. Not much time to be away but the farm work did not make it possible for us to be gone long. Anyway, before we left on a trip my house had to be spotless! Even the drawers all had to be tidy and the freezer defrosted. Why? Because if we were all killed on the highway in our travel I did not want the sisters of the church coming in and cleaning things up. Don't ask where I ever got that notion, but that was my way of thinking in those days! Now...I am more relaxed. I can just hear the words of my mother as she would say, "if they don't like it, they can leave." Truly, I loved your tip and I have to say a big AMEN!!!
Great advice! Of course you are fabulous, helpful guests and a pleasure to have! Cali is lucky to have fun guests.
I tend to go crazy with deep cleaning when I have company coming even though I know they won't notice. I think I like the incentive and deadline, but pretty much I agree with your thoughts here. It's only when people aren't clean normally that having company can be tricky because it's hard to stay in a place that's gross. It was all I could do (I'm extreme I know) not to take over and clean Randy's brother's house when we stayed with them last year.
That is perfect advice. I'm always staring at my kitchen floor when people come over, I need to stop, they don't care. I just need a bit more of Cali in my life. Then I wouldn't have to worry as much.
{so funny, my verification word ends with mess}
Great advice! Especially the part about the mess leaving with the guests – so true. I'm going to try to keep this in mind for the future as I tend to stress about cleaning when people are coming.
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