The "For Sale" sign has finally come down and your children report sighting a moving truck--the new neighbors must finally be here! Have a dinner party in their honor to welcome them to the neighborhood and help them get settled. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Drop a note in their mailbox, or if you see them on the street, invite them to dinner and give them your phone number so that they can check their calendar. Moving is hectic, so give them some room (a couple of weeks or so) to get settled before expecting them over.
2. Invite another neighbor who has children of a similar age (if appropriate). Your children are likely to play together, so it's a good idea to introduce them. If they don't have children, invite other neighbor's of a similar age who can share insights into their new town.
3. Check for any food allergies. Since food allergies are so common place, it's a good idea to see if the new neighbor has any issues with wheat or nuts before planning a menu.
4. Plan something simple. You don't want to spend the evening focusing on the food and not your guests, so plan a simple barbecue or make a lasagna and salad in advance of the night. The focus should be on your new neighbors, not creating a delectable gourmet meal.
5. Provide resources. If you know of a good dry cleaner, write it down. Similarly, let them know of a good piano teacher, gardener, house cleaner, chimney service, car repair, pharmacy, butcher, pool, dentist, doctor or other item. Moving to a new community can be daunting, so use the dinner as a welcome and opportunity to offer up recommendations.
Tags: food allergies, give them, good idea, know good