SIL wants us to write her girls letters at camp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sent a similar request to my in-laws and none of them did it. Thankfully I had DD covered, but boy did they feel like shit when they got the letters from DD to them.

You have an odd read on people.

[Anonymous]

JCF, do you always look for something to be upset about? Take 5 minutes to write a letter.

All is has to have is

Hi [name]

We miss you so much! Hope you're having fun at camp.

[maybe insert a corny Dad joke]

[ have a kid draw a funny picture]

Love,
The family!

Then stamp and it put in the mail. It'll make them so happy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By the ordered vested in me by DCUM Nation, I hereby absolve you of any letter writing to a camp requested by your SIL. It is so ordered.

Six pages in, and this is still my favorite response. I wouldn't want to write a letter, but then I didn't think a letter included all the half-ass examples that were posted. Are these kids elementary schoolers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I forgot to write my OWN kids notes -- nor did I think to ask anyone to write to them.

But if you wanted to do it, I think a lot of kids like getting something like a cartoon or joke in the mail. So you could just print out a Far Side or Calvin and Hobbes, write "Hope this gives you a smile! Love Aunt Larla" and stick it in the mail.

+1 This is what I do for my own DD when she's at camp, there's not a ton of news to share from home! So we send cartoons, a word search puzzle, picture of the dog, etc. She likes them and I've seen her save them and later put them up on her bedroom bulletin board.

I would be happy to do the same for a niece/nephew at camp. But, still, OP it's not a big deal to drop the rope and leave it to your DH to do it or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sent a similar request to my in-laws and none of them did it. Thankfully I had DD covered, but boy did they feel like shit when they got the letters from DD to them.

You have an odd read on people.

No I don't

[Anonymous]

I think it's a nice request and if I remembered I would jot a line or two and send it. And if I forgot, I wouldn't sweat it.

[Anonymous]

Why are families like this? I would absolutely have my kids sent little notes to their cousins at camp. I'm sure your niece will write them back. This little bit of family love and happiness between the cousins will cost you less than $5. And you can drop the letters at the end of your own driveway in your mailbox. The effort is next to nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By the ordered vested in me by DCUM Nation, I hereby absolve you of any letter writing to a camp requested by your SIL. It is so ordered.

Six pages in, and this is still my favorite response. I wouldn't want to write a letter, but then I didn't think a letter included all the half-ass examples that were posted. Are these kids elementary schoolers?

Kids at camp want any sort of mail. They're not demanding 19th century missives with all the news of the last six months. A short note or postcard is fine.

[Anonymous]

This wouldn’t feel like a burden to me. It’s a great way to connect with the younger generation. But I really enjoy my nieces and nephew, and I get sling very well with my SIL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom sent us to camp with pre addressed envelopes to write to certain family members. Then they wrote back. Seems like the nicer way to do it.

I like this approach.

Honestly, I've never heard of this practice. Requesting relatives writing letters to someone who's going away to camp for 1-2 weeks? Sounds helicopty to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sent a similar request to my in-laws and none of them did it. Thankfully I had DD covered, but boy did they feel like shit when they got the letters from DD to them.

Why? I wouldn’t feel bad. She has a lot more free time than I do! And she’s not my kid.

She actually didn't have a ton of free time at an active outdoor summer camp and at 8 years old she sent letters because we highly encouraged them and are raising her not to be a garbage human.

But you do you.

Are you serious pp? Np. No one is a garbage human because they don’t write their nieces and nephews at sleep away camp!! I’m really shocked that anyone would expect this. If you think it’s nice for your daughter to write letters to others that’s great! But I certainly never expected aunts and uncles to write when I was at camp?! My parents wrote me, sent care packages, that was more than enough. I think maybe my grandmothers sent things but that is totally different than aunts and uncles.

you’re totally write that writing a letter doesn’t theoretically take a lot of time, but it’s out of peoples norm and just not something that is typically expected of aunrs and uncles so seems like a weird thing to not give them a pass on. Next time, send the email to the grandparents and keep it at that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom sent us to camp with pre addressed envelopes to write to certain family members. Then they wrote back. Seems like the nicer way to do it.

I like this approach.

Honestly, I've never heard of this practice. Requesting relatives writing letters to someone who's going away to camp for 1-2 weeks? Sounds helicopty to me.

Yesss this is a great idea. If you want your kid to do some letter writing go for it but I don’t think the whole extended family needs to be involved via email.

[Anonymous]

Lol I meant right* not write up there

[Anonymous]

I went to camp and loved it and also loved getting mail while there, even from random cousins and aunts and uncles. A simple postcard with a few lines can help make a kids day. Of course you can drop the rope. Or you can spend 5 minutes on a simple act of kindness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sent a similar request to my in-laws and none of them did it. Thankfully I had DD covered, but boy did they feel like shit when they got the letters from DD to them.

How do you know that's how they felt? (I'm not doubting you, just curious how it is that you came to know that they felt like that.)

Because when she got home they called and said "I got your letter [Larla]! Thank you so much! I'm glad that you had a fun time at camp and I'm sorry that I didn't get your letter in the mail on time [a lie], but I'll make it up to you. Do you want to [insert overindulgent activity here]?". She had 4 of these conversations.

OK, well it sounds like they are caring people who can manage their relationship with your daughter just fine. If they don't do X, they'll stay connected by doing Y. If they feel they missed out on A, they'll do B instead. You sound like a peach.