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To Host or Not To Host | Pad Patter 11.24.22

Memaw2Wm said:
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.
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It sounds like you lucked out getting out of the hosting rotation. ;) Maybe I’ll get lucky like that some day…
 
cfile said:
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
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I prefer minimal groups too (shhhh don’t tell my sisters haha). I hope you and your hubby enjoyed your Thanksgiving Christa.
 
Haven’t hosted for years now for several reasons but the main reason is accessibility, we have a very long driveway then 14 external stairs which isn’t great for mobility challenged family members.

Pre COVID, my mum and I would go to my grandmothers house the day before and help cook and prep the family meal before the rest of our family showed up. Unfortunately now that we don’t have a family home as such since my grandma went into care last year, our traditions have sort of been lost.
 
umyesh said:
I prefer minimal groups too (shhhh don’t tell my sisters haha). I hope you and your hubby enjoyed your Thanksgiving Christa.
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We did! Thanks Monica!! Hope you and your family did too!
 
Do you prefer to host or not to host?
I like both, but do enjoying going elsewhere!! Thanksgiving - for the past 10 years or so we have travelled to my husband's cousins. That means I get to bring drinks! But it also means no leftovers. For Christmas, we have my parents join us for lunch and there are 8 of us. A few days later we travel to see hubby's family and at another time to see my family at parent's house.

What is the best part of hosting?
It is fun to feed people and see people happy. Love having people meet new people or people they have not seen in a long time.

What is the worst part of hosting?
Getting all the food ready at the same time. Making sure everyone has what they need.

What is the largest gathering you have hosted?
About 50 for my daughter's graduation from high school. It was a lot of fun but I did not get to sit and talk with anyone much.

My daughter is getting a degree in hospitality management and event planning. So if she is around, hosting a party is easier! And she will make all the deserts.
 
Do you prefer to host or not to host?
Although I've never hosted Thanksgiving, I do prefer to host things at my house.
Right now my mom hosts Thanksgiving and I did offer to host it this year because she had been dealing with the flu/bronchitis/ear infection...but she insisted she would be better. She was almost better. I think she still likes the nostalgia that having everyone at her house brings to her.

What is the best part of hosting?
I love the moments right before when everything is clean and organized. I also love that I don't have to go anywhere.

What is the worst part of hosting?
Probably if people hang out too long...I do like everyone to be out by 9pm whenever we have a party. LOL.

What is the largest gathering you have hosted?
Probably my daughter's graduation. I think we had almost 60 people here.
 
We started hosting for my husband's Mom family (only one aunt & uncle and his brother & family) a few years ago. Usually it's only about 12 people. We had one year where we did it at an event center for more space and we invited my family and few close friends as well. I think that was my favorite year. I love hanging out with ALL of our family. I was surprised that cooking the turkey really wasn't that difficult, but I always get anxiety that my gravy won't turn out! LOL. Perks of hosting - more leftovers. Cons - having to clean up. My husband's family isn't super helpful in staying to help clean, with my family we ALL get up and help clean up. I think my mother in law is sometimes old-fashioned and doesn't like ANYone to help her clean. I'll take all the help I can get! LOL.
 
umyesh said:
It sounds like you lucked out getting out of the hosting rotation. ;) Maybe I’ll get lucky like that some day…
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Well I hosted for 30+ years. I’m the oldest and started hosting Thanksgiving in 1978. My current house is simply too small to host big family gatherings. There were only 16 of us this year … we were missing eight grandchildren and their families.
 
littlekiwi said:
Haven’t hosted for years now for several reasons but the main reason is accessibility, we have a very long driveway then 14 external stairs which isn’t great for mobility challenged family members.

Pre COVID, my mum and I would go to my grandmothers house the day before and help cook and prep the family meal before the rest of our family showed up. Unfortunately now that we don’t have a family home as such since my grandma went into care last year, our traditions have sort of been lost.
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I’m sorry your traditions have sort of been lost Jennifer. I think that happens to everyone at some point. I hope you are able to find joy in making new ones.
 
I am on the fence with this one - to host or not to host. I think the issue with both my husband and I is that we are both VERY introverted. Home = our cave = our safe place = our sanctuary. To allow others to come to our home is to interrupt that safe place/sanctuary and a self-defense/offensive attitude can occur (because we want to protect our space). BUT, there is a part of me that knows that Don and I would make great hosts for small gatherings...we just need to get over ourselves.
 
BevG said:
Do you prefer to host or not to host?
I like both, but do enjoying going elsewhere!! Thanksgiving - for the past 10 years or so we have travelled to my husband's cousins. That means I get to bring drinks! But it also means no leftovers. For Christmas, we have my parents join us for lunch and there are 8 of us. A few days later we travel to see hubby's family and at another time to see my family at parent's house.

What is the best part of hosting?
It is fun to feed people and see people happy. Love having people meet new people or people they have not seen in a long time.

What is the worst part of hosting?
Getting all the food ready at the same time. Making sure everyone has what they need.

What is the largest gathering you have hosted?
About 50 for my daughter's graduation from high school. It was a lot of fun but I did not get to sit and talk with anyone much.

My daughter is getting a degree in hospitality management and event planning. So if she is around, hosting a party is easier! And she will make all the deserts.
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I do not like being assigned drinks because all I drink is water haha it is a nice assignment when you have to travel though.
Yay for a daughter to help with hosting! My oldest helps me clean so that makes hosting a lot easier for me.
 
Scrapping with Liz said:
What is the best part of hosting?
I love the moments right before when everything is clean and organized. I also love that I don't have to go anywhere.

What is the worst part of hosting?
Probably if people hang out too long...I do like everyone to be out by 9pm whenever we have a party. LOL.
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Ditto to all of this Elizabeth! I was ready to send everyone home at eight haha
 
ashanddiz said:
We started hosting for my husband's Mom family (only one aunt & uncle and his brother & family) a few years ago. Usually it's only about 12 people. We had one year where we did it at an event center for more space and we invited my family and few close friends as well. I think that was my favorite year. I love hanging out with ALL of our family. I was surprised that cooking the turkey really wasn't that difficult, but I always get anxiety that my gravy won't turn out! LOL. Perks of hosting - more leftovers. Cons - having to clean up. My husband's family isn't super helpful in staying to help clean, with my family we ALL get up and help clean up. I think my mother in law is sometimes old-fashioned and doesn't like ANYone to help her clean. I'll take all the help I can get! LOL.
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That’s nice you host for them each year now. I have only cooked a couple turkeys in my life so that part still intimidates me. I’m with you and love any help I can get cleaning up!
 
Memaw2Wm said:
Well I hosted for 30+ years. I’m the oldest and started hosting Thanksgiving in 1978. My current house is simply too small to host big family gatherings. There were only 16 of us this year … we were missing eight grandchildren and their families.
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I didn’t realize how long you’d been hosting. 30+ years is very impressive! Good work! I hope you enjoyed it this year even though it was a smaller crowd than usual.
 
ArmyGrl said:
I am on the fence with this one - to host or not to host. I think the issue with both my husband and I is that we are both VERY introverted. Home = our cave = our safe place = our sanctuary. To allow others to come to our home is to interrupt that safe place/sanctuary and a self-defense/offensive attitude can occur (because we want to protect our space). BUT, there is a part of me that knows that Don and I would make great hosts for small gatherings...we just need to get over ourselves.
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My husband and I are both introverted too (husband even more than me) so I completely understand.
 
Do you prefer to host or not to host?
I prefer not to host, just in case that it's mandatory, lol

What is the best part of hosting?
That my husband clean pretty well the house

What is the worst part of hosting?
All the food that I need to cook, bake, and prepare

What is the largest gathering you have hosted?
40 people
 
umyesh said:
I’m sorry your traditions have sort of been lost Jennifer. I think that happens to everyone at some point. I hope you are able to find joy in making new ones.
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I’m sure we will eventually, doesn’t help it’s also a spread out (in a geographical sense) and split family situation as well
 
ArmyGrl said:
I am on the fence with this one - to host or not to host. I think the issue with both my husband and I is that we are both VERY introverted. Home = our cave = our safe place = our sanctuary. To allow others to come to our home is to interrupt that safe place/sanctuary and a self-defense/offensive attitude can occur (because we want to protect our space). BUT, there is a part of me that knows that Don and I would make great hosts for small gatherings...we just need to get over ourselves.
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THIS! I feel the same about my home; it's neither a restaurant nor a playground! Husband disagrees... He'll get over it... :whistle
 
Do you prefer to host or not to host? I almost always host because my house is bigger than either of the grandparents house's.

What is the best part of hosting? It forces me to clean my house. :giggle

What is the worst part of hosting? I have to clean my house. :rofl

What is the largest gathering you have hosted? Our families are both small, so I think the most I've ever hosted was about 12 people?
 
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