5 Must Follow Rules for hosting
in your home
I am naturally a rule follower. I function better when there are rules. Rules also make others feel comfortable, safe and cared for. As a host, it is your goal to make your guest feel each one of these things, comfortable, safe and especially feel cared for. Here are 5 Must follow rules for hosting in your home that I have found to be easy to follow but makes the big difference in our guest feeling welcomed.
Hosting Rule #1
Keep the conversation upbeat
If hosting a large gathering, keep the conversations upbeat and open to everyone. If you see that a groups conversation is going south, take control of the conversation and turn it to be upbeat and positive. A conversation that everyone would enjoy. This will require you and your husband to be alert as well as have some topics that you can pull out of your pocket to talk about.
Hosting Rule #2
Include your Introverts
Keep your eyes open for guest that are just standing alone or sitting quietly away from the group. Usually, this is not a sign they are bored, it just means they don’t feel comfortable engaging. You have to be the one to stand in the gap and connect the introverts to the group conversation.
Hosting Rule #3
Control your Children
Don’t let Children control the gathering. This is one of the biggest must follow rules. My momma would always tell us, “children are to be seen and not heard”. There is nothing more annoying than a child that runs the show. Sorry if that offends you. But when you are having a gathering and there is a child that is pitching a fit because things are not going the way they want or maybe they are not being entertained in a way they think they should be entertained that child needs to be redirected and sent to their parents or given a task to keep them busy.
When you invite people over, it is for a time of enjoyment and getting to know one another better. Back to my momma’s saying, I value conversation with children and I love hearing their opinions and their outlook on the world but I don’t think a child should be the center of attention when adults are trying to talk.
Have things for children to do. A coloring station or board games for them. Give them something that is age appropriate and also fun for them to do.
Hosting Rule #4
Have to-go supplies
Keep ziplock bags and to-go containers on hand. When the guests are packing up, offer for them to take some food home with them or a slice of dessert. This is a way to send them home with something from you. If you have to-go containers or plastic bags, the guest can take them home and not worry about having to return the containers.
I always love sharing my leftovers with our guest. It is a way to extend the hospitality and when they are enjoying their treat or leftover, they will remember the enjoyable time at your home.
Hosting Rule #5
Always stop and say Hi
Always greet and say goodbye to each guest. I know that when guests are arriving you are usually trying to finish up last minute details on the food or trying to get the table set, but take a moment and say hello. To be greeted as you enter a home makes the guest feel relaxed and welcomed. It breaks the awkwardness of someone not feeling comfortable and it shows them that they are welcomed into your home. In the same way, be sure to say goodbye to your guest. Give them a hug or a kind word as they are leaving your home. This is the last opportunity for you to impact them in a kind way.
Rules make the world go round
I hear over and over that people just wing having guest over. I love the fact that people are opening their doors to guest more but these 5 must follow rules are not something that is a hardship on you, it is a way to make your guest desire to come back to your home again. Not because you invited them but because you invited them and made them feel cared for.
Rules are a good thing when you are hosting. Figure out what works for you and implement some of these must follow rules in your hosting.
