Welcoming Christmas Company
A full house at Christmas can be a very happy house, but it can also be more chaos than a barrel of monkeys—especially if some of those monkeys are children all keyed up at the prospect of a visit from Santa. A few preparations can make your guests feel welcome and help you cope with the extra people.
Setting the Stage
Whether your guest accommodation is a pull-out sofa bed or a separate bedroom, imagine that you’re a guest in your own home. What do you need most, and what will make you feel comfortable, rested, and welcome?
Fresh linens and fluffy towels (with a place to hang them up) are always appreciated, along with extra blankets or pillows, just in case they’re needed. A reading lamp beside the bed and a night light in the hall or bathroom can help light the way. Making space in bathrooms and closets also makes a big difference.
If children are among your prospective visitors, make sure you have toys, books, movies, or games on hand: You can buy them inexpensively at secondhand stores if you don’t already have a stock of your own. Check ahead of time, too, to see if the children have favorite snacks.
Holiday Helper
Really want to impress your guests? Consider adding bottled water, fresh flowers, a clock radio, books, magazines, or a little welcome basket of extra toiletries to their room. A coffee-or tea-making tray (think hotels and motels) can help guests whose sleep schedules might be different.
Stress-Reducing Strategies
Being clear and upfront about expectations and schedules is always a good idea. If, for example, you’re still heading to work every day, let your company know what your schedule is, so that you’ll have that precious bathroom time to yourself in the morning. And also let them know that you don’t expect them to be up with you and the larks!
Make sure that you introduce your guests to your home and any of its eccentricities, from keys to alarms to plumbing. To keep everyone safe, make sure that your guests know what your local emergency numbers are (or where they’re kept) and any fire escape routes.
Especially if your company is staying longer than just a few days, it’s a good idea to plan a few activities that you can enjoy together. Make sure it’s something that you want to do, too, so that you’re as enthusiastic about the activity as they are. You can also suggest activities or local attractions that they may wish to try on their own: Provide local tourist information and directions as needed.
