My sister has done this every year for a long time. This year, my mother and I are going to Home Town Buffet for our Thanksgiving Dinner. If she arrives at the house, we will just tell her we already had our dinner. She also doesn't call to see what time the meal will be served, just shows up whenever she wants to. She is rude and has few manners.
I bet they'll be late, some people live their lives being late. I never understood that and find it really rude!
Our Daughter was habitually late........so, I tried different methods...One that worked well is that I told her dinner was at 2 when I really planned it for 4 .....she was right on time. I don't have to do that anymore she took the hint. However, now that our children have families of their own and having to drive at least 2 hrs to our home - we no longer get together on the Holidays and plan it for another time.... with our Western New York Weather that can change in an instant I rather they not plan to come out..........winter/snow - white outs /slush/ice can make for a treacherous drive.....and better be safe than sorry.............One year we went away for the weekend and stayed at a B & B in Vermont - it was awesome!
I don't know what's worse, last year I cooked and about five people came before I had a shower. This year I'm going out..I'm friggin tired of cooking.
My sister-in-law is one of those who will be late to her own funeral. The way we handled it is if we wanted everyone at our place by 5pm we would tell her it is by 3 pm and she would be right on time. Some people have no concept of time. They don't realize how rude they are. Funny is that when she is hosting she tells us 5pm and we're there at 4:55 and she is all flustered because noting is ready yet. Some people never learn.
Somebody once told me that people who are constantly late for everything believe that they are just worth waiting for. When somebody is nice enough to invite you to their home, especially for a home-cooked meal, being late shows a major lack of respect. I probably would not tell them a different time; I would just serve dinner at the time I scheduled, and if the person is not there? Oh well...
I gave up on everyone getting there on time. I usually get it on the table by 2:00 and we end up eating in shifts until 6:00.
One year I decided that it would be great if the family all met at a restaurant instead of all the cooking and cleaning hassle. Well my kids pitched a fit, moaned and groaned but finally agreed. The meal was good but expensive, too gourmet and fancy for our tastes. That was the last time we did that. I like my cooking better and so do my kids.
I love cooking Thanksgiving dinner and I don't care if others come or don't come; I'd cook it if I were alone.
After they are past the age where they learned to tell time, I don't bend the schedule for any lackadaisical lollygaggers.
That being said, that was never a problem at my old family to do's
Darn, now I'm getting melancholy thinking about the past fun and family good times, the old ones are all gone, and the younger set are scattered about like gypsies....
Think I'll have a Brew and a Burrito and do some star gazing.........
