Friends come and go, but the neighbors will always be there, so it pays to exercise a little thought in advance. The following three tips will ensure domestic harmony continues long after the guests have gone home.
Don’t warn them, invite them
Far better to invite them to join in the fun. If you’re anticipating a house full of boisterous youngsters and the old lady next door is in her 80s, you might think it is not her thing, but she will certainly appreciate the gesture, and be far less likely to complain. And you never know, she might just accept and you’ll get the chance to know each other a whole lot better!
Encourage considerate parking
Control your guests
We all know someone, or indeed a few people, who get a little silly or antisocial after a couple of drinks. Sometimes it manifests itself in being argumentative, on other occasions they become unable to control their volume moderate their language when speaking, and there are even those who lose all sense of propriety and start to pull off tricks and stunts that seem funny or entertaining to them but to nobody else.
As the host, it is your responsibility to intervene if someone steps over the line. Usually a discreet word does the trick, but sometimes the only answer is to tell them to leave. It’s not an easy thing to do, but look at it this way – you have to live day in and day out with the neighbors, not with your inconsiderate guest. And while it might seem harsh at the time, they will be the ones who are embarrassed and apologetic in the cold light of day, so no real harm done.
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