To Host or Not To Host | Pad Patter 11.24.22

[umyesh]

We’re celebrating Thanksgiving today and I volunteered to host so we didn’t have to cram into my mom’s house. There will be 26 people here today so we cleaned a lot yesterday to prepare.

Do you prefer to host or not to host? What is the best part of hosting? What is the worst part of hosting? What is the largest gathering you have hosted?

 

[umyesh]

Do you prefer to host or not to host?
I prefer not to host because it stresses me out and I get grumpy (I’m working on the grumpy part).

What is the best part of hosting?
I clean my house and I don’t have to cook as much.

What is the worst part of hosting?
Being overwhelmed by all the people.

What is the largest gathering you have hosted?
We had the largest crowd when we hosted both families for my oldest’s first birthday.

 

[IntenseMagic]

Hmmm there are definitely pros and cons to both lol
I'm hosting this year. We went to my son's last year.
It's just going to be my kids and their families, so 11 people. The biggest con for me hosting is that my house is small and I don't have a ton of dining space, so it gets a little crowded and chaotic. But, most of the leftovers will stay here and I don't have to go anywhere.
Pros to going somewhere else is not worrying about cleaning up before and after, and while I love the leftovers, I also love not having to deal with them

 

[StefanieS]

I opt out of hosting Christmas since my Mom passed away. My sister-in-law loves to and we go there. I make the gammon and trifle and she decorates.
Too many people stress me out, as does the mess and noise. Having said that a Christmas of just the 5 of us, is quite sad as well. So it's hit and miss a little in terms of my headspace.

 

[umyesh]

Hmmm there are definitely pros and cons to both lol
I'm hosting this year. We went to my son's last year.
It's just going to be my kids and their families, so 11 people. The biggest con for me hosting is that my house is small and I don't have a ton of dining space, so it gets a little crowded and chaotic. But, most of the leftovers will stay here and I don't have to go anywhere.
Pros to going somewhere else is not worrying about cleaning up before and after, and while I love the leftovers, I also love not having to deal with them

I didn’t think about leftovers staying! I’m going to have to make sure that’s the case today haha

 

[umyesh]

I opt out of hosting Christmas since my Mom passed away. My sister-in-law loves to and we go there. I make the gammon and trifle and she decorates.
Too many people stress me out, as does the mess and noise. Having said that a Christmas of just the 5 of us, is quite sad as well. So it's hit and miss a little in terms of my headspace.

I’m sorry about your mom’s passing Stefanie. That’s nice your SIL loves to host Christmas. I’m always thankful when my little sister hosts so I don’t have to.

 

[Pachimac]

I actually prefer to host, but as my FIL gets older and more sedentary, he likes having it at his place, but we bring the food.

 

[umyesh]

I actually prefer to host, but as my FIL gets older and more sedentary, he likes having it at his place, but we bring the food.

I am very thankful for people like you Susie who like to host. That’s nice of you to do what he prefers.

 

[michelepixels]

If we're just talking about Thanksgiving, I've enjoyed hosting every year since 2009. But we've never had more than about 10; one other family.

I do like aspects of being a guest though, mainly the less planning and preparing.

The biggest event I've hosted in my house might have had 25 people. Not sure whether it would be one of the times I had several families over from my homeschool group around a decade ago, or one of the many times we hosted several friends on Halloween because our neighborhood is great for trick or treating.

 

[dotcomkari]

I love to host but live in a tiny apartment so I can not. So we go else where . . We ended up at Eric's aunts for Thanksgiving.... and we do it potluck style so no one person gets stuck doing all the work.. everyone is assigned a dish to bring. It works out very well

Christmas eve use to always be at my grandparents. But when my grandfather passed in 2019 my sister kinda took it over. That runs a little different.. and people kinda say what they are bringing but also bring other stuff too.. last year I think we had 4 green bean casseroles. Hahaha ... and so many deserts .

when i owned my house before my divorce ..we use to host events all the time.. i think biggest i did was like 100 people ..friends and family for my exs college graduation party ...

 

[sharonb]

I rarely host anymore, I cook. Since MIL died and DD and her family are in TN for Christmas, we went to a friends thanksgiving party. My DD usually hosts.

 

[mary kate]

I like to host, but 26 people would be a challenge for me. The worst part: I find myself frantically cleaning my house the day before, and even the morning of. One of the best parts: I end up with a clean house!

 

[dawnmarch]

I hosted my extended family last Thanksgiving and while it all went fine, I realized how much I do NOT like to host. I love having everyone around but I do not like being in charge of feeding everyone. I'd much rather we all go to a restaurant and enjoy each others' company than people (especially me ) slaving in the kitchen. It amazes me that some people actually enjoy it when I find it so very stressful.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

I used to host at least one holiday (Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas) each year with two of my sisters hosting the other two. Nowadays, sister #3 hosts TG, and sister #4 hosts Christmas. The pandemic pretty much ended Easter, along with the GKs growing up.

 

[cfile]

I don't like doing that anymore..i like that it is just hubby and i.. i don’t like going places where there are people i do not know.. i was more adventurous when i was younger.. as i age, i prefer minimal groups

 

[umyesh]

If we're just talking about Thanksgiving, I've enjoyed hosting every year since 2009. But we've never had more than about 10; one other family.

I do like aspects of being a guest though, mainly the less planning and preparing.

The biggest event I've hosted in my house might have had 25 people. Not sure whether it would be one of the times I had several families over from my homeschool group around a decade ago, or one of the many times we hosted several friends on Halloween because our neighborhood is great for trick or treating.

I bet you’re a pro hosting Thanksgiving now that you’ve been doing it for so long Michele. That’s great you like it; maybe it will grow on me if I keep doing it.

 

[umyesh]

I love to host but live in a tiny apartment so I can not. So we go else where . . We ended up at Eric's aunts for Thanksgiving.... and we do it potluck style so no one person gets stuck doing all the work.. everyone is assigned a dish to bring. It works out very well

Christmas eve use to always be at my grandparents. But when my grandfather passed in 2019 my sister kinda took it over. That runs a little different.. and people kinda say what they are bringing but also bring other stuff too.. last year I think we had 4 green bean casseroles. Hahaha ... and so many deserts .

when i owned my house before my divorce ..we use to host events all the time.. i think biggest i did was like 100 people ..friends and family for my exs college graduation party ...

We did it potluck style too Kari. Everyone brought so much food that we had to set up another table for it!

 

[umyesh]

I rarely host anymore, I cook. Since MIL died and DD and her family are in TN for Christmas, we went to a friends thanksgiving party. My DD usually hosts.

I’m sorry about your MIL’s passing Sharon. That’s nice of you to cook; I volunteered to cook Stove Top stuffing because it’s easy and my kids like it. I hope you enjoyed your friends party.

 

[umyesh]

I like to host, but 26 people would be a challenge for me. The worst part: I find myself frantically cleaning my house the day before, and even the morning of. One of the best parts: I end up with a clean house!

Yep! I was definitely frantically cleaning all day Wednesday and Thursday! I also cleaned today so our house could be clean again just for us.

 

[umyesh]

I hosted my extended family last Thanksgiving and while it all went fine, I realized how much I do NOT like to host. I love having everyone around but I do not like being in charge of feeding everyone. I'd much rather we all go to a restaurant and enjoy each others' company than people (especially me ) slaving in the kitchen. It amazes me that some people actually enjoy it when I find it so very stressful.

I’m sorry you had to stress about feeding everyone. Thankfully my family knows that if I’m offering my house then I’m not cooking much haha the house is my contribution!