How Do I Tell Guests To Clean Their Kids' Sticky Hands In My Home?

Dear Expert Mom,

I am having a family birthday party next week for my daughter. We will be having approximately 8 of her cousins over, all of whom are under the age of 9. The problem is, none of the parents (both my siblings and my husbands) seem to care if their kids get cake and ice cream all over their hands and face and then get down and walk all over my house, putting their sticky hands all over my furniture. It drives me crazy that they don't have the common courtesy (or sense) to clean up their kids after they eat. I would never do such a thing in their house!

Can you please tell me a tactful way to ask my guests to clean their children's hands after they eat?

-Disgusted in Dayton

Dear Disgusted,

I suggest putting a container of self-dispensing wipees in the middle of the table, and tell the kids loudly enough for the parents to hear "here are wipees for you to use when you are done so that your hands are not sticky." Hopefully between the parents and the kids, someone will get the hint and the sticky little hands will get wiped. If you see any of the kids leaving the table without cleaning up, don't be afraid to grab a wipee yourself and say (in a nice way) "hold on cutie - let me wipe your hands for you so you are not sticky."

Bottom Line: Unfortunately, you can not always count on other parents to treat your house with the respect that you would show in their home. Don't be afraid to take matters into your own hands, as long as you do it in a nice way that allows your guests to still feel comfortable in your home. Good luck!

~Expert Mom