Guests when I don't want them

[babyface]

I am a mother of six lively kids.
I have a daycare in my home and every day there are ten two-year-old strangers in my house plus an assistant.
I have an aunt and her two teenaged daughters who live out of town, they came to NY not really to visit ME, just to visit the city. so they are a few blocks away in a hotel. fine. good for them!
TOday, my assistant cancelled on me, my back-up cancelled on me, my other back-up couldn't come. I was ALONE(!!!) with ten little toddlers.
My aunt calls up - now, every phone call made me jump today cause I kept trying to get an assistant - so the phone rings - it's my aunt. she wants to come visit.
I got all excited.
I said, "good now I'll have 2 teen-aged girls to help me"
they don't show up till all daycare kids get picked up except one).

so good, they come in time to see my kids come home from school. they marvel at how they grew and how cute they are etc.

Then it's time for my kid's bath and they're still there. fine, I wash my kids. they are ready to sleep. THEY ARE STILL THERE!!!
it's WAAAAAY past their bed time, and they still don't think maybe they should leave!!
I love my cousins and all but they should have come when they SAID they would!!

[Audrey]

Can I take a different side? Did you ask them to assist you? Did they know you were expecting that?

What time do your kids go to bed? Were they thinking maybe they'd spend time with you after the kids were in bed???

I'm just looking at all angles?

[MaryAnn]

It sounds like a major communication glitch. Did you tell them what time your children go to bed? Did you ask them (nicely) to leave? Did they know when they called earlier that you didn't have any daycare help?