No holiday photo card?

[Anonymous]

This is such a petty, first world problem, but it crossed my mind just now after receiving an email from Shutterfly.

For the past 16 years, since we had our first baby, we have sent out photo cards with a nice family group photo adorning them. I also love the cards we receive from others, and I’d say 95% of them are also photo cards, the rest being regular cards from older relatives.

We hit a rough patch in our marriage this year and have no family photos, no fun vacation pics, and our teens wouldn’t be keen on a photo shoot just for the holiday card; I didn’t ask them, I just know!

I don’t want to lose the correspondence from others by NOT sending a card, because I know people are trying to lighten their card loads already, stamps are ridiculous. What will people think if I send a generic card this year?

[Anonymous]

I’ll be honest, I’ll think you guys are having a rough patch. Others may not, but this would be my first thought – I am the poster on the Fairfax double murder thread that initially thought there were marital problems because their Christmas only had a picture of the child on it.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t waste the time or money. Generic cards immediately go in the trash. But I don’t display any. I keep the picture ones for a while in a drawer but toss generic ones immediately.

[Anonymous]

That your kids outgrew the tradition and vetoed it.

Hope next year is better for you

[Anonymous]

There is nothing “generic” about sending a traditional greeting card and ***hand-writing*** a brief sentiment, such as “Wishing you a wonderful holiday season! Love, The Wilson Family”

What IS generic is family photo cards that have pre-printed sentiments and not even a handwritten “Love, Sally and family.”

[Anonymous]

Can you not find a casual pic of your kids doing something fun on your phone? A sporting event pic or something at school? It doesn't have to be some kind of staged family photo. Minted has holiday cards that are traditional on the front and then you can add a casual picture or two on the back with a holiday message. That's a good balance. I also really appreciate getting holiday cards especially ones with photos or update in them. But do what your comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing “generic” about sending a traditional greeting card and ***hand-writing*** a brief sentiment, such as “Wishing you a wonderful holiday season! Love, The Wilson Family”

What IS generic is family photo cards that have pre-printed sentiments and not even a handwritten “Love, Sally and family.”

This. I display the beautiful winter scenes and nativities on my mantle and toss the cards with photos of grown adults. I don't mind a photo of young children in holiday wear. If I wanted to see your vacation pics I'd follow you on social media. It literally has nothing to do with Christmas.

But for OP, I would just use a slightly older pic like Christmas of last year if you're that concerned, or just send a greeting card. Kids becoming teens is the PERFECT time to end this. I wouldn't think you were having marital problems at all. In the 80s and 90s I remember my family receiving only pics of little kids, and now I get photos of college and 20something kids with the parents, elderly people on vacation, adults with their dogs... it's just so bizarre to me. Your kids not wanting to pose for photos means this is the right time to stop.

[Anonymous]

no one sends cards anymore.

Free yourself.

[Anonymous]

I don't care what kind of card someone sends, it goes on the fridge until 1/2 and then it goes in the recycling bin. So send a photo card, send a generic card, send no card, whatever you want to do.

I stopped a few years ago. Over time we have gotten less cards as I assume we've been dropped. I find cards to be a waste of time and paper but that's me.

[Anonymous]

You literally have 0 pictures of your kids from this year?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t necessarily think it meant that you were in a rough patch.

I’d think you were underwater with life and super busy, potentially.

Or that you were another person giving up on sending holiday cards.

[Anonymous]

I don't remove people from my list if they don't send a card so it wouldn't bother me although I'd miss seeing all your faces.

I hope things get better for you.

[Anonymous]

I’m stopped sending cards, but I also worried people would, in turn, slash our name from their list, and they did. I really looked forward to and enjoyed the cards I received, but then I got to thinking: it’s one month out of 12. Who cares!

Now I take the $30 I would normally spend on cards and stamps and the time I would spend addressing them and go to B&N, buy a book and a coffee and celebrate myself.

[Anonymous]

I love getting cards. I don't care if the kids are old!

I also don't mind getting plain cards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't remove people from my list if they don't send a card so it wouldn't bother me although I'd miss seeing all your faces.

I hope things get better for you.

I wouldn't worry about this. If you are still in contact with the people you want to receive cards from, I don't think they are going to go out of there way to remove you.

The only folks I have ever removed from my list - friends of friends I no longer see socially, deceased people, former work colleagues who moved out of town and I don't keep in touch with outside of these cards.