I have a friend, she has been my friend for over 20 years...In that 20 years I have seen her reasonably regularly. I visit her, she visits me.
The thing that has started bugging me is this.....
When I visit her it is normally in the daytime. I stop in for a cuppa and a chat. When she visits me, it is always in the evening, always at dinner time and always assumed her and her son will be fed. This has always happened.
now while I have no issue with having friends round for dinner...shouldn't they be invited to eat?
She has arranged again to come tonight...and will bring dessert...already assuming she will be fed and watered. The bring dessert thing just ensures dinner is included in the visit and only happens occasionally. I get the impression it happens when she senses she shouldn't be inviting herself.
The other thing that bugs me, is there is NEVER any offer to help clean up. Not even taking plates to the dishwasher or putting them on the bench. I cook the meal, I clean up the meal, and then I spend all evening making sure they have hot and cold drinks.
My question is...am I being mean spirited? She is my friend after all, and maybe it is just that we are so comfortable around each other that this behaviour should be seen as good. Almost like family. Or, is my niggle justified. Is she taking the piss?
What would you do?