While trying to be the perfect host, Redditor u/StatisticianNo9903 recently found himself in an unspoken situation as he and his wife generously opened their home to his in-laws' parents and their 21-year-old kids.
During their stay, the in-laws' kids seem to treat their house like an open pantry, snacking and cooking without asking for permission. So the OP's wife addressed the issue to her parents, but there was a bit of a misunderstanding.
The in-laws offered to replace all of the snacks, even though the couple's main concern was that their kids didn't ask before munching on them, not about getting the food back. Even more surprising than that was that the in-laws asked the couple to reimburse them for the food they bought for everyone, catching the OP off guard. "I find that rude and petty," OP said.
Now, the OP is wondering if their idea of being a good host is different from their in-laws'. Is it just a matter of being used to more generosity from their parents, or is there a bigger difference in how they all see things? To find out more about this tangled family tale, keep reading.
Source: Reddit
OP gets frustrated when his in-laws' kids freely snack and cook without asking for permission

The OP asks:
Source: StatisticianNo9903
OP has been generously hosting and accommodating their in-laws and their kids

OP has observed that in-laws kids freely snacking and cooking with household ingredients without asking for permission

In-laws' kids have had a lack of enthusiasm or gratitude for planned activities

Parents of OP's wife offered to replace all of the snacks and asked OP to reimburse them for shared expenses

OP, feeling frustrated, perceives the actions of their in-laws as rude and petty


Being a good host involves more than just opening your home – it's about creating a welcoming atmosphere where guests feel comfortable and appreciated. From thoughtful gestures to planning activities that suit everyone's interests, the art of hosting is about making others feel at ease.
Whether it's providing snacks, planning outings, or simply being attentive to your guests' needs, the key is to strike a balance between generosity and maintaining open communication. After all, the true measure of a good host lies in creating positive and lasting memories for everyone involved.
Here's the comments of Reddit users:

Source: Sea_Yesterday_8888



Sometimes being a perfect host is not an easy task.
Like in the case of the Redditor, he tried to generously host and accommodate his in-laws and their kids, and all he wanted was to receive his guests' courtesy, such as asking before snacking or expressing gratitude for planned activities. Unfortunately, miscommunication made things worse.



Source: cb1977007

Ever had guests over where being a good host got a bit tricky? How do you deal with it without making things awkward in the family? Share your thoughts or similar stories in the comments. Let's chat about hosting and family dynamics!