My attitude is that people are pretty much always welcome in our home, provided the following:
- They do not expect that I will wait on them hand and foot
- They do not require a home-made banquet at every meal
- They are friendly and do not take me, my family, or my home for granted
- They do not expect me to change my entire schedule for them
I love being a hostess, but I have so many responsibilities in the family and at work, that I cannot ALWAYS be the kind of hostess my mother is. I like to do it, I wish I could do it often, but after a while, I have to think of myself and my own happiness. I don't want to resent my guests. If something is too overwhelming for me, I'd rather be honest and straight-forward about it.
I've seen my parents taken advantage of their entire lives, and of course that is the fault of those taking advantage, but it is also my parents that allow it to happen. Then they are unhappy and hurt and bitter. I won't put myself in the same situation.
I too have seen this happen to my parents, but THEY NEVER LEARN!!! I don't know why, maybe its so strongly instilled in their culture as they were growing up. I believe it is better to treat others how they would treat u.