Am I being unreasonable? (Horrible house guests)

Question

A few weeks ago, some friends came into town for a wedding. They stayed with us for 3 days and 2 nights. While they were in town, I babysat their 18 month-old son while watching my own 19 month-old. We went to great lengths to prepare for their visit and make them feel at home. The most trying times were when their son, who was obviously sick, with a runny nose, and taking medicine, hit pushed, or bit my child. The parents told him, "That's not nice. Go give a kiss." So their child would grab mine by the hair and put his germy, snotty mouth around mine's. My child was sick for over a week following the visit.

I try to be understanding, but I an hurt and offended that after all of that, I never received a thank you note, email, phone call, anything. We have stayed with these friends in the past (never for more than one night) and we have always left a thank you note with an appropriate gift as a sign of gratitude.

I am so upset about this. Is it unreasonable to politely tell them to find a hotel next time they want to stay here?

Answer 1

you are being perfectly reasonable...send them to a hotel, you have every right to..:)  

Answer 2

First, you should have intervened as soon as you saw their sick kid going to kiss your kid--you should have swooned in and removed your kid telling the parents that you'd rather not have your kid come down with whatever was ailing their kid.  That is reasonable and responsible.  You have a duty to your kid no matter what.  If these people are truly friends, you should be able to say to them (when talking to them on the phone) that your kid came down with whatever the sick kid have and so in the future you'd appreciate some consideration--you like having them sleep over but if their kid is sick, it'd be best to keep him at home so he couldn't contaminate others.

Being allowed to stay for free at someone's home is a privilege and as a good guest a thank you is in order--however, some people don't seem to have any manners.  If they're really good friends, you can joke with them about "what, not even a thank you email?"

If you really are upset and don't feel you can take and keep control when these people stay over, then make up some excuse next time they want to stay over--the house is being fumigated, someone else is already scheduled to stay on those days, your best friend is having a leg amputated so you're not going to be around.

Answer 3

EWWW. Wow those people are soo rude.

OF COURSE YOU SHOULD.

If they call say you do not wish to have anything to do with them anymore and if they could please find another place to stay.

Go out the day they visit, or stay in and tell your son to be quiet and lock the doors so they think your not home xD

Answer 4

Absolutely send them to a hotel next time. You are not unreasonable.

If these "friends" have the gall to ask why just simply state "It's not a good time for us" and leave it at that. Repeat it a few times if they persist.

Answer 5

I hate house guests.

Absolutely, tell them it's inconvenient for you to have them and tell them to stay in a hotel. Don't feel guilty or bad about it. They didn't.  

Answer 6

If they ask to stay with you again, just say it isn't convenient right now.  You don't owe them any explanations.

Some people do nice things, and some people don't.  If their kid was sick, they should not have left him with you around your kid.  I might have said, you need to take him with you.  Maybe not, but I'd sure keep the two of them apart.  Maybe you could have sent your kid to your sister's house and just kept old Germy.  It would have been appropriate for you to intervene when germ-kid tried to infect your kid, even if the parents were encouraging it.  I wouldn't let it keep me awake at night.  Chalk it up as a learning experience.

Answer 7

It's your house, if you don't want them as guests, then send them to a hotel (like 1st answer) "It's just not a good time" is a great universal excuse.

Answer 8

No if you are expecting a certain response and don't get it you will be disapointed.  You have to decide - how good of friends are they - is it worth alienatig them over this.  

Answer 9

no i do not like people staying with me either. i like to be comfratable in MY own home

Answer 10

Ugh, I completely understand if you would like to send them to a hotel.