Happy days with the family 📷 Julie Kristensen
The past week or so has passed by so quickly. Just before the holidays we had two birthdays in the close family, firstly our son’s 16th birthday, then my husband’s birthday the following day.
So a bit busy for us to get everything prepared at the same time as getting things done at work. But we managed and had a great few days.
Favourite Christmas candy 📷 Rikke Hjuler
After the birthdays, guests started to arrive at home. Previously, having people over could stress me out a great deal.
Inviting friends and family home is an excellent way to spend time together, it just requires a bit of planning for things to run smoothly and for you to be at ease too.
3 ideas for you to stress less when you have guests at home:
Plan ahead
Manage expectations
Accept a helping hand
Planning ahead is quite simple. I think through how many meals to prepare while the guests are staying over. Next step is to write a grocery shopping list. Then do the shopping.
Like most people, I like to receive my friends and family in a clean and organised home. Before people arrive we clean and arrange as much as we can. I try to involve the kids all along, make them clean their own space, let them vacuum clean and so forth.
Regrettably, in the past I would run around to fix stuff, while the guests were with us and not stay much with them to engage in longer and deeper conversations. I guess it also had to do with the kids were younger and needed more help
Nowadays I manage to engage more and accept help with dishes or preparing breakfast.
Mormor helping in the kitchen 📷 Rikke Hjuler
At my brother’s home earlier this week.
Today the last guest have left and we have cleaned a bit and exchanged a few gifts at the shopping mall. nice to get the house back in shape for New Years.
Candle holders from our tree 📷 Rikke Hjuler