Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

I try to, and we have been so busy but I always like to have my in laws over for coffee and cake, or wine or dinner when I can. I made sure I invited the whole family over (in pieces, b/c our place isn't huge!) after we moved in...I also try and have my parents over for dinner, my sister, etc....

I am very hard on myself and always think I'm somehow "not" doing enough. Am I alone with this guilt trip? NO ONE makes me feel this way; it's just me. Both our moms are so great about inviting us over for dinner and tell us, "That's what moms do; we can whip things up!" but here I am, making myself feel bad when I don't reciprocate the exact same way....

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

To tell you the truth, NO. I can't handle the stress of it. When we moved in I had a Christmas party and had 30 people in my one bedroom apt. I wanted to kill myself from the stress, Im anal so everything had to be perfect and in order. I literally lost sleep over it. Not a party since, I dont even want to have a Pampered Chef party due to the whole "appy thing". I have had MIL over for dinner, and my mom and friends. But nothing big, I can't do it to myslef. I would love to but eesh the stress.

Oh and when we move next year, I already have the family 30+ telling me they will fly down so I can do Christmas. Yeah ok.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

Posted by JennZ

To tell you the truth, NO. I can't handle the stress of it. When we moved in I had a Christmas party and had 30 people in my one bedroom apt. I wanted to kill myself from the stress, Im anal so everything had to be perfect and in order. I literally lost sleep over it. Not a party since, I dont even want to have a Pampered Chef party due to the whole "appy thing". I have had MIL over for dinner, and my mom and friends. But nothing big, I can't do it to myslef. I would love to but eesh the stress.

Oh and when we move next year, I already have the family 30+ telling me they will fly down so I can do Christmas. Yeah ok.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

Nope. My father has been to our house maybe three times (but I also don't talk to him); my mom lives out of state as does my brother and we only have DH's family over at Christmas, maybe a BBQ every other year.

But we also don't invite anyone else over

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

I feel the same way as you! I was actually JUST thinking about this. The summer is flying by and there is always something to do on the weekends, parties, showers, weddings, etc. I was emailing my mom telling her that we'll have them over soon and then I realized that we don't have a free weekend until the end of August!!

Don't worry , it sounds like you are being a great daughter/daughter-in-law! They understand, but it's still good to invite family over when you can

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

OK, I made DH shower like 3 hrs before the "shindig" so the bathroom would not smell "like a shower", It had to be steam and shower smelling free. I do it to myself.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

We make it a priority to get together with family, but not invite them over. Our apartment is too small for it right now. We can't wait until we have a house and a dining room and dinner parties and retreat to the deck for some wine afterwards.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

we try to have both friends and family over all the time. sometimes i really enjoy it and sometimes it is stressful. we rarely just have my M&FIL or my mother over alone though. I dont cook so it's just easier to go out to dinner.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

We don't have family over very often. But it's more because DH's family all live about an hour away so it's much easier for us to go there then have all of them come to us. As for my family, my mom almost always does a big Sunday dinner so it's easier to go there. I want to try to have them over a little more often.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

No I don't. This may sound cold but all they do is create drama and I would rather not be around all that stuff. This goes for my side of the family not his.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

it sounds like you are doing a lot!! i should be ashamed of myself---my in-laws come over a cook for us!!!

i would do more if we had a bigger place--right now its a 2 bedroom inbklyn--i would LOVE a backyard

Message edited 7/27/2007 3:31:10 PM.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

Posted by JennZ

To tell you the truth, NO. I can't handle the stress of it. When we moved in I had a Christmas party and had 30 people in my one bedroom apt. I wanted to kill myself from the stress, Im anal so everything had to be perfect and in order. I literally lost sleep over it. Not a party since, I dont even want to have a Pampered Chef party due to the whole "appy thing". I have had MIL over for dinner, and my mom and friends. But nothing big, I can't do it to myslef. I would love to but eesh the stress.

Oh and when we move next year, I already have the family 30+ telling me they will fly down so I can do Christmas. Yeah ok.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

No. Our apartment is small- my sister's is bigger. My sister and I get together at least once every 2 weeks and we all speak daily- so its not really an issue.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

we live a little too far from our families right now to just do coffee and cake or else I would give both of them an open invitation

I try to invite for dinner often, but in the summer our small hot apartment isn't that appealing.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

When we first moved into our place I was always inviting my family and my ILs over. No one ever came and it really made me feel horrible.

I've had my sister and her husband and my mother come for dinner once or twice but it was only after complaining how no one ever comes over. So I guess it was a pity visit.

So now I don't say anything. They know that my door is open if they want to call first and come by for a visit or for dinner but I refuse to ask anyone anymore.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

Yes, I try to get them over at least once a month...I enjoy my family!

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

we try to have my mom, grandma, aunts, cousins over as often as possible in the summer. I'd say we average 2x a month. I LOVE entertaining.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

I wish I saw my family would come down and visit me more My parents have been down 3 times, his dad twice, his mom once. I enjoy having company over and spending some with them. I'll stress out like crazy and be incredably anal for days before arrival, but once they are here I enjoy their time.

A good friend of DH was suppose to be coming on Monday for a week but things came up and he cant. I was bummed for days.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

I would like to have them over more, but we live in the city and it is a hassle for them all to come in. I did have them all over a couple of times at this point. I wish they would come in more instead of always having to go out to them.

Re: Do you make it a priority to invite family over?

Yes we are always having family over..but it is so stressful..