Novelty worn off.

Ana the OP was to novelty of visits. Easter visits are messy in many ways to lack novelty.

Easter is lovely, it's GC visits that lack novelty and are predictably a choco-mess.

Perhaps you should take up an old custom I learned about whilst on a tour in Savannah,GA.

Apparently, the pineapple is a sign of Southern hospitality and, when visiting, your host would place one on the mantelpiece. However, if you came down to breakfast to find the pineapple had gone, that was your sign to leave.

Not sure Easter's supposed to be a novelty...

The Easter novelty was never. Chocolate smears, too much food, too many people.

Squirms and noise in Church.

Novelty worn off quickly.

Some years ago my DD and her OH lived with us for about 3 months owing to a fire in their own home - it actually worked brilliantly, mainly because they were both so thoughtful and considerate. We were very lucky!

We use to have mil to stay when she was alive, a week was more than enough as she was so fussy, she even turned up with her own sheets and lamp! Wanted her meals at set times. One time after slaving over a hot cooker and announced our meal was ready...her reply was I am not ready I am reading my book. I put her meal side and we sat down and ate without her. Since we retired we have spread out at home and both spare rooms are in constant use so we don't tend to have people stay for more than a night.

But my dog was ecstatic!

The boot was on the other foot when I visited my daughter and son-in-law. Three days? I was there five weeks! Mind you, she just produced my second grandson's the end of March. He was overdue so that accounted for the first two weeks stay. Finally he arrived on Mother's Day! He weighed in at a whopping 10lb 6oz. The next three weeks of my stay allowed her some time to recover while I played every day with my two year old grandson. I know she wasn't glad when I returned home ?

Such a lovely post maddy629. You're inspirational to have lost so much and still appreciate what you have. ?

I love my family and friends visiting. I have 2 children, 5 grandchildren and lots of friends and I consider myself blessed.
My husband and I are never happier than when the whole family get together. I have lost two children, a little boy of 5 months and my beloved eldest son at the age of 31. When that happens it makes you realise that nothing is more important than family. So, to answer your question, rubylady, when does the novelty of having them around wear off? Never, you should count your blessings.

Me and my DH have lived in Australia for the last 10 years and absolutely love it here, would never dream of coming back to the UK, but I do miss my sister terribly. So we asked them to come over and stay with us for 3 weeks and it was fantastic! I cried and cried when she went back to the UK...its not like we are here on our own - We have our 3 kids and 5 grandkids here so plenty to keep us occupied, but I would have given anything to have had my sister here for longer.

Opinions please:
My DH had driven 300 miles to collect his indomitable sister for 5 days. As he was shattered the following day, we stayed in on her first full day.

I hoped she'd read the book she bought or, watch some one or two films or TV shows we'd recorded. she doesn't have Sky. She would do neither. She sat looking recalcitrant, saying "I don't watch TV during the day" and, "I don't feel like reading my book." I tried to think of topics, whilst my DH snored. Long drives or physical exertion leave DH like a damp kitchen tissue.

Looking back, I could have given her a tour of our local nurseries/garden centres - if I'd have thought of it.

DD, hubby & GD had just moved into a new house needing a refurb when my daughter became pregnant (planned). What wasn't planned were the twins she was expecting. With this news the house had to be done more quickly than they anticipated so they moved in for three months. We got on well with DD and darling GD and loved having them around. Hubby was a different matter - he kept over filling and over-soaping the washing machine, after I'd said he didn't need to put so much in grrrr. We all ate together taking it in turns to cook, but had to adjust to each other's menus which OH and I didn't always like. Then DD's waters broke 8 weeks early so we had all the drama of that and twins in NNIC, but it was convenient for looking after GD. They eventually moved back into their home when the twins left hospital. GD seemed to find it difficult because she loved having us all together and of course mummy was very busy with twins. We missed GD's chatter an fun very much. House is always pretty chaotic when GD stays over one night a week but far better that, than a show home. But I say there's always a home if DD or DS need it and somehow we'd fit in the family too.

My older son has moved overseas with his family, so has cleared all the stuff they left here while they were in a small flat. Meanwhile my younger son, who has been 'boomeranging' for the last few years through no fault of his own, has now finally been able to move to be near where his PhD is based. So Easter will be the first Easter in over 30- years when I haven't seen either of them.

It will certainly be different having the house to ourselves over a holiday - I'm quite looking forward to not having extra work, although obviously would love to see them.

I have a cousin of whom I'm very fond.
She stays with me two or three times yearly, but I am always relieved when she goes because she does not wash!
I am very encouraging, always say there's plenty of hot water, and have you tried this new shower gel etc. but to no avail.
Short of telling her that she pongs something rotten, i don't know what to do. She doesn't usually stay more than three days, and believe me, I do remember that visitors are like fish!

my old gran, who incidentley looked like the gran in the Giles cartoons, used to say when she had had enough--
"I'm in my own house and I wish you all were"

DD3, husband and 2gcs are on their way to stay until Sunday. Not sure if this is a good idea. I'm moving in 2 weeks time. DD supposedly helping me () and she wants to have one last stay in her childhood home. Oh dear....... I'm in such a muddle I don't suppose it matters any more

I feel so relieved reading these posts. My 20 year old stepson moved in last September and shows no signs of leaving. He has gone away for the week, then on to his mother's till Easter Monday and I feel so much more relaxed even though we all generally get on when he is here. Happier now I know it's not just me so thanks folks.

after living on my own for just over 20 years, two years ago in may my grandaughters were placed with me by social services [long, harrowing story] and my daughter came too.
there were talks about finding a flat and moving on just the three of them [by this time the decision was taken that my daughter was leaving my son in law permanently but the girls weren't allowed to go back to the marital home] but in the end finances dictated that they stay with me.
it was very enjoyable although chaotic as belongings piled up in the conservatory [the washing alone took up 10 black plastic sacks but furry toys were in there as well] and we tried to fit four people into a two bedroomed house! i sleep in one double bedroom and the two girls and daughter sleep in the other.
it's taken almost two years now but it'll take quite a lot longer before we're actually straight [and this is before we get the rest of their belongings delivered from the marital home when divorce proceedings get into their stride!].
but they're all three of them such wonderful company that i'd be upset if they did leave ............ they're welcome to stay for as long as they want!

We have three lots of family coming within 10 days! Lovely to see them and they do jobs in the garden etc but how Inwish they'd spread it out a bit - if only to avoid swapping around of beds and washing of sheets!

Hello Rubylady - I share your sentiments, how very reassuring. I love my friends and family and enjoy having them visit, but my goodness am I glad when they've gone!

Me and my DH have a little dance we do as we sing 'I'm on me own now, I'm on me own now.....' as the crowd leave. Now the kids do it too when we visit! I like the fish analogy! I'll definitely use that one!

In my heart, I look forward to people staying but as the time draws nearer I realise the work they cause and the disruption to our very quiet lifestyle.
Just before Christmas my 2 grand daughters told me they would be coming over to see us...with their 5 great-grandchildren. Then reality set in. We would feed everyone, entertain the children, take the younger ones to the park etc., whilst our dear grand daughters had a 'catch up ' with each other on the settee.
Then nature stepped in and my husband developed shingles. The perfect reason for them not to come and for us to have the quiet Christmas we longed for.
I've got a heavy cold at the moment but is this sufficient reason for them not to visit over Easter? I sound so selfish, don't I.

I haven't seen one son for nearly three years. I would love him to visit. The up side is I'm flying to see him next week.

My daughter lives in Wales and while I will stay with her if I am babysitting, I much prefer to hire a caravan if I am staying for any length of time, that way we can spend the days together then at night we all get to do our own thing, this makes me far more comfortable.