Just Say NO!
Christine the Curmudgeon seriously wants to know – WHY don’t some people just have the balls to say NO?
Take this letter from Ask Amy, for example…
Dear Amy: We have family members who are the houseguests from hell. They walk into our home and it’s total chaos, from dirty laundry to kids’ toys everywhere. They stay for several days and it has become an almost monthly routine. They do nothing to help. The father is consumed with killing the next squirrel, rabbit or bird, while the children are left to their own devices.
With the holidays just around the corner, we are dreading what’s in store.
We’ve indicated that we wouldn’t be home for the holidays and their response was, “We’ll take care of your home while you’re gone.”
What should we do?
– Upset Family
Dear Family: Evidently, you’re so passive that you would rather leave town than make a simple statement. Your family knows this and they are — hello — using you.
So try saying this: “We’re sorry, but these visits are too hard on us and we can’t have you stay at our house anymore. We’d like to invite you for the holiday dinner, but you’re going to have to stay somewhere else.”
They may be indignant. That’s how people react when they lose their free hunting lodge. But you’ll have to be clear and consistent, and they’ll have to hunt for housing elsewhere.
Sheesh! Just change the damned locks and tell then, NO, you can’t stay with us. NO, we won’t babysit your kids, and let them make a mess while they monopolize our bell tv.
Sheesh! Grow a spine already, kick these people to the curb, and take back your own home! How hard is that to do?
