Mu husband and I learned an important hosting lesson when our family, with young children, had dinner at a relatives home with their adult children and grandchildren. We all helped clear the table, then stood around talking in the kitchen while the kids played. Even though dessert was laid out on the buffet, ready to go, it wasn't offered, as the hosts did the dishes, wiped down the dinner table, and sorted all the leftovers.
Eventually, their adult kids said "we've got to go, it's the grandkids' bedtime", to which the hosts said "but we haven't had dessert yet!" They had been so preoccupied with cleaning up that they didn't take into account that their guests had a time limit.
We vowed to do minimal cleaning while guests were in our home from then on, especially with young kids.
And yes, always fill water glasses ahead of time and have a pitcher ready to go for refills!
Mu husband and I learned an important hosting lesson when our family, with young children, had dinner at a relatives home with their adult children and grandchildren. We all helped clear the table, then stood around talking in the kitchen while the kids played. Even though dessert was laid out on the buffet, ready to go, it wasn't offered, as the hosts did the dishes, wiped down the dinner table, and sorted all the leftovers.
Eventually, their adult kids said "we've got to go, it's the grandkids' bedtime", to which the hosts said "but we haven't had dessert yet!" They had been so preoccupied with cleaning up that they didn't take into account that their guests had a time limit.
We vowed to do minimal cleaning while guests were in our home from then on, especially with young kids.
And yes, always fill water glasses ahead of time and have a pitcher ready to go for refills!