Tips for Hosting a Family Party with a Days Notice
Every woman knows that dreaded feeling that comes after her loving husband comes home, and informs her he has invited company or family over to the house. Normally, hopefully, this announcement would come a week or two weeks ahead of time. However, there are occasions when last minute plans have to be made and a home is nominated on short notice. Or other members of the family do the inviting, not realizing all the work that goes into making the home presentable.
Don't Panic.
While there is some satisfaction that comes from having several days to prepare for family/social gatherings, there are also some loopholes that can save family relationships. There are three major rules to follow when playing hostess or host on short notice.
- 1- Identify the basics.
Make a list of the chores that need to be done to make the house presentable. Sometimes the list is shorter than first thought, or it is spirit-crushingly long. If the latter is the case, then choose the things that will bother you the most if they don't get done. A good rule of thumb for this is to always keep the dishes done (clean) and put away. Also make sure all the table tops and flat surfaces are cleared off of paperwork and odds and ends.
If you can live with the rugs not being shaken, and the dishes sitting nicely in a dish drainer or washer, then that is one more thing that can be crossed off the list. Clean dishes are probably always a good place to start. Doing the essential things will leave a sense of at least trying to make things presentable. For every housekeeper these basics will be different.
- 2- Keep it simple.
The day before a family dinner is not the day to plan a Thanksgiving style dinner. If possible keep frozen batches of dinner favorites on hand. Foods like meatballs, lasagna, or soup will make the cooking situation easier.
If storing back food is not your strong suit, then it's okay to order pizza or make a quick morning-of dash to the grocery store. Just remember to keep the meal simple. One pan dishes are best. If the event is a carry-in then all that has to be done is a simple side dish or dessert.
- 3- Don't Resent
Whether it be Mom, Honey, or Junior, who did the inviting don't let the fact that the visit was last minute ruin the family time. Yes, not planning on company and then suddenly having to pull things together is frustrating. But don't punish the person who invited the guests over, if it is a chronic problem, then discuss it in private after the gathering is done. Never let your guests know that you were informed last minute. You need to make them feel welcome.
Time with family can be a wonderful blessing, so try to discourage the situation in the future, but just roll with the current situation. And always remember there was a previous plan before the plan B. There had to be a mastermind behind that, and enlist them to help if possible. Two heads are better than one.
The Main Points
Even if being host or hostess was a last minute decision, there are ways to make it less irritating for everyone involved. Just remember to “do the basics,” as in the things that you feel need to be done to feel as if the place is some-what tidy. “Keep it simple,” don't plan elaborate or time consuming meals or entertainment. In most cases less is more. Lastly, don't bear any resentment. It's not worth dividing a family. Remember, they are here to be together, not to inspect your house.
