Reply to Is yours the house the kids hang out at? How'd you get that to happen?

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Reply to "Is yours the house the kids hang out at? How'd you get that to happen?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Yes, it's always been that way and my parents home was the same way.

Our house was always the one that you didnt have to call first to see if they wanted to play, they'd just come over and ring the door... my parents never said no to friends coming over.

We too have an open door, more the merrier policy. 
We made sure to give them an area (family room) where they could hang out and be themselves, without helicoptering parents stalking around.

We put a big screen TV down there, huge sectional couches that are really comfy and can be rearranged into movie watching chairs, we make everyone that comes to our home feel comfortable and welcome, our kids friends know that if they need to get out of their house for whatever reason, they have a safe place to land eighth us (and their parents are thankful for it).

I basically treat all of my kids friends like they're my own, as I'd want my child treated. 
I am warm with them and make them feel comfortable being in my home, but I also treat them as my own in ways.

Such as; if they're eating over, I'll ask them to set the table while my kid is preparing a salad, I'll ask them to help load the dishwasher after dinner or take out the trash for me... and while most adults think kids don't want to do this in other people's homes, I find it makes them feel MORE a part of the family, as they feel awkward just sitting around doing nothing while everyone else is busy chipping in.

They actually like helping out and ask what else they can do -- I only give them light work such as that so they can feel included.

I remember the first time I came home from a date and my best friend was sitting at the kitchen table talking to my mom about a problem she was having with her boyfriend... she had been there four 2 hours while I was out, because she knew that she could.

That same scenario would happen many, many times over the years, with at least a dozen friends,  because my mom was a great listener and she gave excellent, well balanced, thoughtful advice.  She passed away from Pancreatic Cancer last year, and my dad passed 6 months later... his official cause of death?  A broken heart. 😢
Boy, do I mis them.

If I can think of anything else, I'll let you know!

[/quote]

They sound wonderful. I’m glad you had them in your life. [/quote]

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