Post # 1
Member
1486 posts
Bumble bee
“Thanks, but no thanks?”
I’m hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, and one of the people has graciously offered to come over and help me cook. I appreciate the offer of course, but I sort of like cooking Thanksgiving alone. You know, I might cook the meal in pajama pants, and I might stress a little about timing, but by the time it’s done, I’m in nice clothes and calm and gracious. My process isn’t very guest-friendly, you know?
So what’s a polite way to relay that? That I appreciate the offer, but no thank you?
Post # 3
Member
1418 posts
Bumble bee
I would just say something like “Thank you for offering, but I have everything taken care of! All you have to do is come with an empty stomach!”
Post # 4
Member
2867 posts
Sugar bee
@Quietserenity: “No thank you, your presence is gift enough and I quite enjoy cooking for guests.”
Post # 4
Member
200 posts
Helper bee
“Thank you so much! That’s such a sweet offer, but I’m really planning of prepping alot ahead of time, so day-of I’ll mostly be cleaning the house to get ready for guests. If you wanted to help you could bring an app/dessert so I have one less thing to do ahead of time!”
Sorry, it’s a bit of a speech, but polite and effective.
Post # 5
Member
4137 posts
Honey bee
say exactly that — thanks for the offer, but no thanks. you can tell the person that you plan on doing most of the cooking before the day-of, and so there won’t be much to help with on thanksgiving. maybe they could come over just an hour before everyone else — that way they get to help with some things and you accept their gracious offer?
Post # 6
Member
46977 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Thanks so much for the offer but I prefer to do it myself. I look forward to enjoying your company later.
Post # 7
Member
606 posts
Busy bee
I am the same as you, I love to do it all myself. I would just be honest and say that you LOVE doing it all yourself. People are shocked to hear that.
Post # 8
Member
1486 posts
Bumble bee
Thanks Ladies!
It is a little odd, but I get more stressed out when someone is saying “What do I do next?” than I do when I’m just following my own schedule in my own time.
Also, can you guys believe it’s November now?
Post # 9
Member
614 posts
Busy bee
Can you let them bring something instead?
Post # 10
Member
2090 posts
Buzzing bee
I’m the same way, I would rather just do it myself (because cooking is fun, and its easier to do it myself).
Usually I thank them for their offer, but say my kitchen is small and its easier to have only one cook at a time (this excuse works unless your kitchen is enormous – our kitchen is good sized, but its still easier to just have one cook). Or, I will thank them but say that I prepped a lot in advance so “there’s not too much to do”.
If all else fails, I also task my husband with entertaining the guests so they can’t come into the kitchen haha!
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