Post # 1
Member
7366 posts
Busy Beekeeper
Now I’m not talking about when you stop by unexpectedly (heaven forbid you catch the parents getting busy). I am talking about when they are expecting you to arrive like for a planned dinner or holiday with a specific time you are supposed to get there. I would never ring my parent’s doorbell… I would just let myself in. However Darling Husband and all his siblings ring the door bell to their parent’s home. It just seems really odd to me because it is a very different family dynamic than my own. What do you do when you go to your parent’s house and they are expecting you? Also, do you think it makes a difference if it was the house you were raised in vs. one that your parents purchased after you moved out?
Post # 3
Member
456 posts
Helper bee
I only ring it when the door is locked.. otherwise I just walk in 🙂
Post # 4
Member
792 posts
Busy bee
I wander in if the door is open, if it is locked the dog sees me and starts barking like crazy anyway, he’s like a really annoying doorbell that doesn’t stop :p
Post # 5
Member
4038 posts
Honey bee
When we go to my IL’s house we usually knock once or twice and then walk in without waiting for anyone to answer the door.
Post # 6
Member
2027 posts
Buzzing bee
I just walk in. My parents still have 3 kids at home, about 8 dogs, and an alarm that rings when someone drives down their long driveway. They know when someone’s there. They would probably laugh if I rang the doorbell. Actually, I doubt anyone in my entire extended family rings my parents’ doorbell. It’s kind of an open house.
As for my Mother-In-Law, we typically knock as we’re walking in and announce that we’re there; just in case any nakedness is going on.
At my FIL’s house, you ring the doorbell. Even if you know a bunch of people are already there for dinner, you still ring the doorbell and wait for them to come answer it. Barf.
Post # 7
Member
11394 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I knock on the door only because they keep their door locked at all times. If it was open I would knock then open it & walk on in.
Post # 8
Member
2227 posts
Buzzing bee
I always ring the doorbell when I go to my mom’s because I have no key but Mr Rugbee just walks right in to his parents’ house even when they’re not necessarily expecting us. I always thought it was a bit weird.
Post # 9
Member
2142 posts
Buzzing bee
We always just walk in. Same for my family’s house and even at my brother’s!
Post # 10
Member
1199 posts
Bumble bee
I have a key for their house (I lived there for nearly 20 years after all) so I just let myself in, or my mom sees me and opens the door. FH and his family use the garage, we always use the code and go right in.
Though I think if my parents moved I may be more inclined to knock.
Post # 11
Member
3182 posts
Sugar bee
I always just walk in to my Mom’s house. And my Grandma’s. Even if it’s locked I have a key so I would just let myself in. And I never thought about it before but we would always ring the doorbell at FI’s Dad and Stepmom’s house. And I think that’s a pretty accurate reflection of the family dynamic.
Post # 12
Member
10288 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I never ring my parents doorbell, even when I do just drop by (which is not very often). Their current house is not the house that I grew up in but they’re my parents so it doesn’t really matter. We don’t ring the bell at my IL’s either. I also don’t ring the bell when I go to my aunt and uncles. I guess we’re a “let yourself in” type of family.
Post # 13
Member
7695 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I dont have a key to my dad and step mom’s house and even when they are expecting us they typically always leave their doors locked so, yes, I ring the doorbell or knock
My mom’s house is usually kept unlocked and I do have a key so the only time I’d ring the doorbell is if I forgot my key for some reason and she hadn’t left the door unlocked
Post # 14
Member
9824 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
They mostly lock their doors, so I ring the bell. Holidays when people are expected I just stroll right in.
Post # 15
Member
3799 posts
Honey bee
I just go right in. I’m an only child and live 2 hrs away, so even if I showed up unannounced, they would be too excited to see me to care if I rang the bell.
Post # 16
Member
4803 posts
Honey bee
If they know we’re coming, we’ll just walk right in. If it’s unexpected I’ll always call first then ring the doorbell.
