Anonymous wrote:I like hosting and being hosted because kids can play while adults talk. We've never tried to do a nicer sit down dinner party, though, just casual buffets. If we had a bigger space and yard I think we'd do it more often, but we don't have a great physical space for people to get comfortable in large numbers.

Anonymous wrote:I will preface this by saying I don’t expect to be hosted. My preferred interacting would happen at a neural location like a restaurant.

I hate hosting. I hate the effort and commitment. Clean before then clean after. The planning. The shopping. Someone inevitably breaks or stains something, which then I have to deal with. You have to be “on”, so you’re not as relaxed as you might be someplace else. Also, there’s no easy “out” once you’re over it/tired/ready to be done; you can’t just leave or tactfully make everyone leave all at once.

Anonymous wrote:I hate hosting where airs are put on.Order a pizza and flip open the lid and have napkins out.

You want to make something great but who cares or owns chafing dishes.

Come over, take your shoes off and put your feet up and I'll order some take out.

I'd much rather not be invited over to someone who hates doing it; we can talk on the phone; at the park at a restaurant (yes 100 to no clean up for anyone).

And I don't expect reciprocation, bring a 6 pack or some desert and again (pop the lid and don't worry about the container it comes in)

Anonymous wrote:Hate hosting and hate being hosted at others house. Rather meet at neutral location.

Anonymous wrote:Hate hosting and hate being hosted at others house. Rather meet at neutral location.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like it too. Agree with pp that you don’t host in the hope other people will invite you. Most people hate hosting - too expensive, too messy etc. I am a generous person in other ways too though. I think most people that host are generous.

This. Though I do start to feel used if I host multiple times with no reciprocity

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate hosting where airs are put on. Order a pizza and flip open the lid and have napkins out.

You want to make something great but who cares or owns chafing dishes.

Come over, take your shoes off and put your feet up and I'll order some take out.

I'd much rather not be invited over to someone who hates doing it; we can talk on the phone; at the park at a restaurant (yes 100 to no clean up for anyone).

And I don't expect reciprocation, bring a 6 pack or some desert and again (pop the lid and don't worry about the container it comes in)

We started doing this almost weekly when we had little kids. We call them Shitty Dinner Parties. Real pants not required.

Anonymous wrote:When my husband and I first got married, we were terrible at hosting. But the more we did it, the better we got at it. It was a skill that needed to be developed. Now we have tweens and they’ve understood from a young age not to be afraid of hosting (or “work” in any form). Maybe a dish won’t come out the way you want. Maybe you’ll be a bit tired afterwards. But the act of hosting has taught our family so many valuable skills.

And best of all, our home is filled with wonderful memories of people sitting around the dining table, sharing lots of laughs and some sometimes tears.

It’s work but it gives you something beautiful.

Anonymous wrote:Just be open minded that everyone is different and not everyone likes to host.