Okay...I have 2000 things to worry about right now (LOL), but I'm fretting over my brother/sister-in-law coming to my house for the first time. They are coming in on Thursday of this week for the wedding on Saturday; he is doing a reading for me during the ceremony. I bought my house new, and I've been in it for 1 1/2 years. It's only 1300 square feet and is "cottage" style. I LOVE it because it's ME. It's in a wooded area, I have a great back porch, and it's on blocks--think South Louisiana and Katrina! Anyway, my brother/sister-in-law live outside of Atlanta in a new 7200 square foot house! He owns a health-care agency, and she is a teacher. The house is decorated to a "T"...I have "H"s on the kitchen wall I wouldn't let David paint over because my granddaughter, Haley, was just learning to write her name, and she had perfected the H--on my walls, of course. LOL! Anyway, my sister-in-law and I are very different. I'm still worried, however, about being judged or looked-down-upon when she comes to visit. I wish I could get over this. So...here I sit typing on the computer while I should be tring to make my house look decent. AHHHHHH.

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If you're not living on the edge, you're wasting space.

Yes I do when my stepmom comes to my place. Its your house, your comfortable in it let your SIL deal with it herself. I think the house sounds lovely and you should be proud of it.

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Laura
Please visit my blog
http://mylifeinlaurasworld.blogspot.com/

I know what you mean!! I always stress about other people but then I tell myself if they are just coming to judge me on my house and how I decorate then they don't need to be here. I am not perfect and neither are they. If you are coming to visit me and my family fine come on in if you are going to be looking my house over to compare it to your own don't let the door knob hit you in the butt on the way out.

I think it is cute that you are keeping your grandchild's H on the wall. You don't want to disappoint her and get rid of it.

If you're happy with your home, that's all that matters. And, honestly, if your SIL has nothing better to do than look down on you, or judge you, that's her problem. Hold your head high and be proud of what you have.

Remember, there will always be someone better, prettier, with a bigger house, nicer car, on and on and on. There are also people with no house, no car, heck, no legs......be glad of what you have, as I'm sure you are, and if you're happy with it, GREAT!!!! It's YOUR house.

BTW, Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!!

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I know how you feel because my MIL comes from a 10,000 ft square home with all very expensive imports etc and my house is nice but average in size and decor. I have finally said to myself who cares as long as it is clean because I live here and she doesn't have to . Don't sweat thesmall stuff it's not worth it and I am now comofortabl in my own skin.

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Without Health you have no Wealth!

Having grace, charm and class does not come with the amount of money that you have or the size of your home.
My guess is that your SIL has an appreciation of style. From what you decribe of your home I believe she will see that and compliment you on your great taste in choosing your home. It sounds like a lovely house with great architectural features.
As long as you are a welcoming and warm host, there should really be no problem. And if she does look down at your house and think less of you, it will just show that she may be superficial and snobby. If that is the case, that's more of a reflection of her and not YOU.

Hope you have a great visit with your brother and SIL.

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l/ l/ l/
Dont go through life,
GROW through life

Real eyes...realize...real lies.

{{Loud Applause coming from this corner}}}
Could not have said this better myself!---

After you do the things you know will make your guests most comfortable, sit back and relax. Enjoy the visit! They are coming to see you!!

Congrats on the wedding too!
X

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Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Mount frames around the best H's and paint the rest. We have the smallest house of any of our friends and relatives and the smallest amount of debt. I laugh all the way to the bank.

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Lyn Clarke

Exactly! Lynclarke hit the nail on the head. They do not *own* that house; the bank does! Think of it that way... it will make you feel better!!!!

It is your day. Try to relax and as the other poster said, 'Don't sweat the small stuff.' When I am stressed out, I try to think of the absolute worst thing that could happen and then I can talk myself out of being worried (because the worst thing NEVER actually does happen).

Congratulations!

I was going to suggest the frame thing, too! My aunt did this when we were kids....we got a little to excited with the crayola markers, and even though our art was closer to the floor, she went to the craft store and bought a few little frames and tacked them to the wall. They were up until she died...and I was 20.

Wow! 7,000 sq ft. Who needs that much space??? Our first house was under 1,000 feet and there were 4 of us living there. Now we have close to 3,000 sq. feet and I think it is huge. LOL

Good luck and try not to stress yourself out.

Rebecca

Two of the BEST hostess' that I know are my stepmom and my cousin. And their homes could not be more different. My stepmom loves her home and decorating and taking care of it are her joy, And it shows in the fact that it is always pristine. On the other hand my cousin has a very "lived in" house and she will usually tell you to move an animal to sit down. I enjoy visiting both of these ladies equally because they make me feel welcome and like they are glad that I came to visit. They are each very comfortable in their respective homes and it makes guests feel comfortable too.

That said, Relax.

They are just folks and if they are going to look down on you they would do it if you lived at the White House. If they love you and want your happiness they won't see anything but a beautiful bride to be with a charming home.
.

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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Well said!

You create the atmosphere in your home, make it a relaxing, enjoyable visit and you can't do that by worrying about what other people think. Do something special that highlights the special features of your home, have tea on your porch or put little frames around the "H"'s and call them art. Make the guest bath (or the one they will be using) special with flowers and nice fluffy towels. Make sure they have what they need, so they don't feel uncomfortable asking for it.


And if they have a bad time that's their fault!

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

Wow! 7,000 sq ft. Who needs that much space???

My brother said that with a house that big, they don't have to see each other. Yep, that should tell you something. When they first built the house and I was newly separated, my mother (now deceased) said something like, "I'm so sorry for you. Maybe you can have something like them (my brother and sister-in-law) some day." Nah, I would rather live in a 1300 square foot house where there is a lot of love and laughter.

Thanks for your responses. It will be fine!

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If you're not living on the edge, you're wasting space.

I say that they probably know "its you" and don't care. And if they do tell them or her to BITE ME and google them directions to the nearest hotel!

My MIL and FIl live the way your bro and SIL live and its the most uncomfortable house to be in, I go to my BFF house who has a third of the space and twice as many ppl and its warm inviting and no one cares if something gets spilled. My BFF has a beatiful house and its decorated along the same lines as my MIL THE DIFFERENCE is the ppl who live there. Not the house.

{{{{CONGRATS ON THE WEDDING}}}}

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Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

Wow is this ever timely. My sister is jut moment away from here. I have been stresing all day trying to get the house "ready". Worst of all is our basement flooded last week and we still have a strong musty smell. I don't smell it so much anymore until I come in from outside. But you know what, you all are right. She is here to visit me not my house. Time to relax I think!

This post really hits home with me. My sister and family are coming to the Chicago area this summer. Since we do not live too far from, she will probably come visit me since her kids have requested. She has been to my house only once in the past 15 years (lives in another state). She and I are so very different though, and she is very judgmental that I am stressing over her visit. She has a new, modern, super clean home, and mine is nice, but older and definitely lived in. I also have some older, antique dining room furniture and I know that she does not like that look at all. I also feel like I need to hire a maid so she isn't disappointed. You see how defensive I am getting?

Anyway, I am glad this came up as I need to take the advice given.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

YES!!!! I love my parents,and ultimately love it when they visit, but it is painful. My house is never good enough or big enough or clean enough.....They only had one kid, and I've been out of the house for 15 years......and they were always neat freaks. I have 6 kids and my house is clean, but not always neat.....I firmly believe that when I'm older I will never say to myself "I wish I kept my house more tidy" They always clean, and go through everything......They just don't get the idea of a lived in house.......

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"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

I need to send my neighbor over. I also feel inadequate over our house because its not the McMansion that others in our family have.

My neighbor is living with her aunt this summer and her family is sharing a 2 bedroom house with her aunts family. They are in tight quarters.

She will come over and tell me how much she loves to come to our house because its so big, and all I see is a cramped little house thats way too full and cluttered.

It puts in perspective how lucky I really am.

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