1. What parameters do you follow when a house guest?
2. What do you wish your houseguests would follow? Need male input here as well please.
1.Parameters that I follow:
I don't ask people if I can stay at their house anymore. When I was young and foolish, I invited myself to people's houses, and even brought my kids! I did that to my brother/SIL and to a couple of friends of mine until I realized that I wouldn't want anyone inviting themselves to my house.
So now I even book a hotel when I go to see my kids in Burlington. My son who owns a house will then strong-arm me into cancelling the reservation, or he will say "[Wife's] sister is in town and using the guest room." If I'm totally comfortable that they truly don't mind my staying, I'll go.
When I do go, I clean/tidy the kitchen, take them out to dinner, go to bed early and get up late, and wash the sheets and make the bed before we leave.
2. Parameters that I wish to be followed:
Feel at home. In other words, please feel free to make your own meals, using my food, so I don't have to cook or think up dinners
Try to replace in kind if you use the last of something
Be grateful.
Tell me I have a nice house, even if you don't think so. Compliment my decorating. It will put all my insecurities to rest.