My mom's friend blows her nose all the time...it's gross!!?

Question

My mom's friend is a really nice woman in her late 40's. She's fun to talk to and even I enjoy talking to her. We invite her and her husband over for dinner sometimes and we see them at dinners given by mutual family friends. Anyway, this woman has the disgusting habit of blowing her nose really loudly, even at the dinner table! Her husband does it too, but the woman does it more. All of us think it's totally disgusting, but we just look away politely and don't say anything. Don't they notice that none of us do this? Why don't they just excuse themselves and do it in the bathroom? Is there anything I can say or do I just have to grin and bear it? I don't want to be rude to them and they're really good friends of our family. Any advice?

Answer 1

you could try saying 'wow, I'm surprised your head doesn't turn inside out with the force of that nose blow'

Trouble with people when they get older is that they're already in these habits and they're probably not going to change, but they might start to think about disappearing to blow their nose if you make some comment. But if poss, get your mum to do it - it'll probably just sound cheeky coming from you.

Answer 2

you could try saying 'wow, I'm surprised your head doesn't turn inside out with the force of that nose blow'

Trouble with people when they get older is that they're already in these habits and they're probably not going to change, but they might start to think about disappearing to blow their nose if you make some comment.  But if poss, get your mum to do it - it'll probably just sound cheeky coming from you.

Answer 3

Sounds like they may have allergies.  I think it is better for them to be blowing their nose than sniffing it in so hard you think their head is going to cave in.  The sound of snot getting sucked up the pipes is just... bleh.

Answer 4

Gradually invite them over fewer and fewer times. Maybe they'll get the hint. If not, don't invite them over.

Answer 5

It could be allergies. If they are bad she might have to spend the whole night in the bathroom. Or get up every five minutes. Or the could let the shot run out of their nose and down thier face/s.

Answer 6

I agree with one of the posters. At least they are not sniffing it in ewww. I understand what you are going through. Maybe next time they do it, just ask if they have allergies and maybe they will get the hint.

When I was in high school, EVERY morning in my math class I would constantly sneeze and blow my nose because I have allergies (or I was allergic to the guy sitting next to me). I'm sure I grossed him out but when you have allergies you can't help it.

I don't know what to say, but good luck.

Answer 7

I worked with a guy who used to blow his nose a lot and it was totally disgusting...sometimes he would clip his nails and drop them into a metal wastebasket...you can imagine what that sounded like.  

No advice for you...except just suck it up.

Answer 8

Let them blow their nose, if they're not getting snot on anything then why is it a problem? That's kinda of rude it's not like they're doing anyhting impolite, they could have picked their noses

Answer 9

My mother in law is like that -- and she has terrible allergies. She is totally oblivious to how disgusting it is to the rest of world.  Bless her heart, she has been dealing with her allergies all of her life ... and blowing her nose all the time is just a part of her life.

For people with allergies, many of the coping mechanisms they have become accustomed to throughout their lives are foreign to the rest of the world.  We view their habits as gross and disgusting, but for them it is just a natural part of life.

I doubt any thing you say or do would have an impact.  For your mom's friend, her habit is as natural as blinking for anyone else.