Billet possibilities

rosesforme

There is a new hockey team coming to town and DH and I have decided to sign up to be billets for a young hockey player. It's a MJHL league so the players will be 17-19. We have a room in our basement that should work for this young man, and a bathroom, tv, etc down there so he can be with us or without us as much as he desires.

Has anyone ever billeted before? Experiences good or bad? 

Just wondering, if no one responds I won't cry.

AttaKat

I convinced my poor mother to billet quite a few times for various activities in junior high and high school.  We had 2 exchange students and 3 people from traveling theatre/show groups stay with us on different occasions.  I loved it for the most part.  It was really fun to meet these people and hear their stories.  The practical advice we realized over the years was that giving people a little space is nice.  Your basement sounds ideal.  Often, too much face time all the time can make for cranky and anxious hosts and guests so making it clear that they can come and go a bit and have some of their own time was in the end a real blessing for them and for us.  Enjoy! 

Jen&Joe06

Would you be responsible for transporting him around?

rosesforme

No where in any of the information is that listed as a requirement. But definitely something to look into.

Temp679314250006041

My cousins used to do this.  Overall it was a good experience for them.  Most of these guys are used to being on their own, even the 17 year olds because they start moving away from home to play hockey around 14 or 15 I think.  So it's not like it's their first time away from mom and dad. 

What to expect depends on the guy.  I know they had one who LOVED to party and was out all the time when he wasn't at practice or away for games.  He respected their rules (and he was 19 so they didn't have a lot beyond please be quiet when you come home), my cousin mentioned she wasn't sure he'd pass his college courses since she didn't think he ever went and wasn't sure assignments were happening but since he was 19 and friendly and respectful it didn't really bother her.  More a wry observation I guess.  Oh, their other standard rule was the billets couldn't bring their dates home to show them their room - a nice way of saying "no sex in our house" - and even this partier never broke that one.

The other guy who stood out for me (i used to babysit for them) was 17 when he lived with them and a really nice guy.  He used to come chat with me after his games or practices before they came home.  Really polite, low key, not the stereotypical hockey player I was used to.  He spent more time with them at dinners and in the evenings, was around more studying for his high school classes, played with their kids.  I think they still keep in touch with him.

I also remember a friend of my mom's billeted, she enjoyed it.  She could never have kids so I think she kind of looked at these guys as a replacement kid for the season and I know she still keeps in touch with two who have come to view her as a second mom.  She even went to their weddings and it's been at least 10 years since she last billeted anyone (they moved so there just isn't an opportunity otherwise I think she would do it again).

 

So everyone I know enjoyed it.

rjpickle~

My friend's parents billeted BCJHL players for years. The guys always became a part of the family, and it was probably nice for them, being away from home. I think it's a great idea!