Cookaholics Bulletin Board

A good friend of my husband's is staying with us this week. He's an awesome guy and I enjoy having him here. However, he really likes to help out with the kitchen cleanup. I wish there was a polite way to tell him not to do it. I am super territorial when it comes to my kitchen and I'd rather do all the cleanup myself rather than have anyone "helping" me. My husband says I should just say thank you and let him do it, but it's driving me crazy! I just went in and wiped off my Boos cutting board that had standing water on it and discovered something in the disposal that shouldn't be there. Just had to vent before I lost my cool. I've tried politely telling him that I prefer to be alone in the kitchen but so far he hasn't taken the hint. I suppose I should just be gracious and let him help but he does things like set oven mitts down on top of a dirty dish, etc.

We're off to the liquor store; maybe that will help.

Darc, you and I are too much alike, which is perhaps why we like each other.

I've learned to "live and let live" when it comes to kitchen clean-up. Nothing they do is irreversible, so I try to just chill. Not easy, but I try.

Amy

I just had my parents here for 3 weeks and, while I usually take all help gratefully, my mother was helping me out of my mind. She meant well but kept getting in the way. I started giving her tasks and that worked better. Other than that, just grin and bare it. Like Amy said, you can wipe it up later and still keep your gracious hostess rep intact.

Mary

It is hard when guest want to help. It's much easier if it's just a dinner and they go home. You can leave the clean up until they have left. But, house guests want to help, it makes them feel better. I say drink as much as it takes to have a "I don't give a damn" attitude!. LOL. He will be gone soon.

I have one friend who is a "rinser". She has to help out by loading the dishwasher and her method is to rinse every little thing in hot water, with the water running full out the entire time. It makes me want to stab myself in the head with a fork. She also has a tendency to run around naked, but I find that way less annoying.

Yikes! Well at least he doesn't run around naked. I'm doing okay but needed to vent a little. He helped with dishes after dinner and I didn't even need a drink.

Couldn't the husband drag him out to the yard with a beverage whilst you wash up?
Otherwise, we have our friends around because we like them, not because they are perfect, or mind readers. So we sigh when they do minorly annoying stuff and have another slug of booze.

Can we hear more about JesBelle's naked friend?

Darcie: If I visit you I promise not to help clean up...

Having met your husband and given the fact that visitor is a "good friend" hubby should exercise "manly courtesy and "advise" said friend that if he desires to keep himself "intact" he need to get the he** out of your kitchen.

Dinner reservations might help a bit this week!