DEAR FEELING AWKWARD: You were absolutely not wrong to prioritize your comfort and well-being. Managing unexpected visitors can be challenging, especially when you’re dealing with mobility issues and weren’t prepared. It’s completely understandable that you chose not to answer the door in that moment.

Now I’m feeling guilty and wondering if I was wrong not to answer the door. Should I have let them in, despite the chaos and my discomfort? What’s the polite way to handle unexpected visitors when you simply aren’t ready for company?

I hadn’t been up long and wasn’t dressed for visitors, and my house was far from presentable. There were Christmas boxes scattered everywhere, and I had just dropped a coffee cup, leaving broken pieces all over the kitchen floor.