How can we tactfully advise friends that punctuality is important?
The precious commodity of time— never enough of it! Kudos to you for scheduling time away from the baby and dates with your spouse. Couple time is important and sharing an evening with friends provides the chance to learn what is happening in each other’s lives and reconnect as a couple as well as with friends. It’s an art to deal diplomatically with those who violate punctuality. Establish ground rules within your home and with friends and family members. Be up front when making plans. You might say: “We have two hours for dinner. We need to relieve the sitter at nine. Please be punctual so we can spend as much time together as possible. Will arriving at seven work for you?” Or, “We’ll come over at three o’clock (after the baby’s nap) and we’ll need to go home by eight. This allows us to be together when the baby is at her best. We’ll all enjoy the visit more if we try to stay within this time frame. Does this work for you?” Gain commitment that the time frame works, and be sure to st
