Is knocking and waiting to be invited in a lost art? Am I being rude by locking my door??

Question

I am becoming greatly annoyed at the people who believe that they are welcome to just enter my home anytime . Three different women have all been guilty of coming into my home without waiting for me to even come to the door. The first was the Grandmother of three neighbor boys who I happened to be babysitting for while the Mother worked a few days as a sub at school...the Grandmother just walked right in the first day. The second day I had locked the door and she yanked repeatedly nearly pulling the hook out of the doorjamb until I came to the door and then she said, "Oh, it was locked." The 2nd lady I currently babysit for and she does the same thing, even if I have the door locked, which I always do to keep the little ones safe, she will yank repeatedly and knock at the same time...if I happen to have the door unlocked she will open it right up without even a courtesy knock. The 3rd lady is someone whom I pay to do our laundry twice a week ..I dont get it??

Answer 1

well for the 3rd lady, id have to ask if shes an immigrant. if so alot of the stereotypical immigrants tend to be completely rude and break alot of rules/laws. only on the account that they can easily claim they do not know English/ can not understand what your saying or that they are not used to the "American way" and such.

if not that's just plain rude. talk to her about it, doesn't work?

find a different cleaning lady

the others i would sit down and talk to. since its completely unnecessary to behave in such a mannor. they need to learn some manors.

Answer 2

I kind of understand the people whom you baby sit for.  I mean, clearly you are home and you have their children.  They maybe just expect to be able to walk in.

I don't get the third lady.  I mean, she does your laundry, that isn't really an invite into the house at any time.

I've always been one to knock and wait.   Even if someone is obviously home, I find it quite clear that they don't want company when they don't answer.

I've never had this problem.  Everyone I've met seems to get the point of knocking.  Even if the door is unlocked and it's just the screen, they knock then open the door and call into the house before just walking right in.  

If you want a passive approach to your problem, get a little kitschy painted sign on your door that says, "Please Knock first".  Or just print off a sign from your computer that says, "Knock.  Then wait for me."

Otherwise, you could just say, "Would you mind knocking before welcoming yourself into my home?"

Answer 3

I totally agree with you.That is what doors are for,to keep people out.If it isn't open(standing open)then they shouldn't feel it is okay to just enter.It is not their home.

I always knock and wait at the door.I expect folks to do this at my home also.My own children knock and wait for me to let them in when they come to visit.

Maybe hang a sign on the outside next to your door,"Please Knock". Yes,this is very rude.

Answer 4

My  friend has a note on his door.

"Knock, wait and until answered.. Drive thru is closed"

If the person says anything his answers is...

"Never know "WHAT" will JUST walk in!"

Do the same, if they complain after that... I am watching childern and want them to have GOOD manners and be safe! ( maybe leave out the drive thru )

Good Luck

Answer 5

That is really rude.

No I always knock and expect a knock from other people. It is appalling (really) that some women would just enter the house. I would have rubbed grease or something on the door k**b and whatch her fall on her a** if i were you.

NO your not being rude

you can once unlock the door then when she justs randomly comes in, confront her and ask her to never do it again.

(but the grease thing would be funnier)

Answer 6

Entering your home without knocking is never an appropriate thing to do. If you don't do something, you are empowering the behavior. I would respond to Granny and the other oldies by saying, "yes, I locked it for your children's (or my own) protection because people have been entering my home without the courtesy of knocking first." She should get the message.

Answer 7

i don't mind when people who are in my house regularly, such as a cleaning lady, or a close friend comes in without knocking, i mean what's the point? if it were a complete stranger whom i was not expecting, it would be another story. but i don't see any harm in family friends or cleaning ladies coming in without knocking.

Answer 8

I don't know about the lady that does your laundry, but I would say the mother and grandmother of the kids feel it is their right to check on the kids. But I agree with you they should knock before they enter. I don't know where you live that people would feel that the door would be unlocked. Not in my neighborhood!

Answer 9

I hate that!! they are rude!!, ok i understand that you are babysitting their kids, but that is really rude. ppl think that because they know you they can do that everytime they go to your house. That has happen to me and i hate it because everyone should have their privacy. just lock the door everytime so they would have to knock. i always keep my door locked. you never know!!

Answer 10

no you are not they are rude