To the many teens out in full force on DCUM today
...can you do this OP a favor and recommend cards that would amuse older teens for a few minutes?

Anonymous wrote:Ok thanks everyone. Things to think about.
Appreciate the perspective.

It's worth $30 a year to try but maybe you really should talk to the parents and ask if they'd be okay with a gift card "now that the kids are older".

If you have family photos you could send one per occasion with a note.

Paper is pretty environmentally friendly compared to an unwanted gift.

Anonymous wrote:another idea for next year...

I send these to my nephews (12/14), for little things - first day of school, end of school, valentines, etc.

https://www.cheryls.com/happy-birthday-cookie-card-vdy21-297291?searchTerm=card

We have someone send my kid these and huge hit.

Ok thanks everyone. Things to think about.
Appreciate the perspective.

moonpig.com has lots of cards that you can personalize.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP HERE
This is last year https://www.amazon.com/Ribbli-Basketball-Handmade-Greeting-Birthday/dp/B0811GDC3V

AND year before https://www.amazon.com/WOWPAPERART-Boy-Soccer-Player-Retirement/dp/B07VXTJ1NR

These are nice, but again if their is no relationship the parents are throwing them out or the kid opens it and throws it out.

PP. A lot depends on the mom.

I often put my kids' cards in a little display with their gifts and took a picture, along with pics of their cake that year, and pics of the birthday child. Many of the gifts are also passed along now (toys). But it's fun to remember.

Anonymous wrote:OP HERE
This is last year https://www.amazon.com/Ribbli-Basketball-Handmade-Greeting-Birthday/dp/B0811GDC3V

AND year before https://www.amazon.com/WOWPAPERART-Boy-Soccer-Player-Retirement/dp/B07VXTJ1NR

These are nice, but again if their is no relationship the parents are throwing them out or the kid opens it and throws it out.

I think OP is looking to send a greeting card (not a gift card) which she believes will feel like a gift if the greeting card is substantial enough.

It's a very kind thought, OP, but the kids don't care about the card. The parents will appreciate that you made an effort, but a $1 card from the Dollar Tree would suffice. No child is thinking that a greeting card feels like a gift.

Anonymous wrote:Here are two possibilities:

https://www.freshcutpaper.com/products/birthday-pug-pop-up-card

https://www.amazon.com/MOROLURU-Birthday-Decorations-Daughter-Granddaughter/dp/B0DT6ZLJZV/ref=asc_df_B0DT6ZLJZV?mcid=97809ad38722344786572d99ef064767&hvocijid=13698726630844127087-B0DT6ZLJZV-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13698726630844127087&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016823&hvtargid=pla-2281435177578&psc=1

Get Black Gold color variant for a boy

I like the 12 years ago card idea. You could even make an addendum page, like what you remember from 12 years ago or 12+12 or 12+12+12 etc. depending on how old you are.

OP, someone may have already suggested these, but if you want to do something fun next year, you could put $5 in one of these puzzle boxes. My tweens thought they were fun.

https://www.amazon.com/sspa/click?ie=UTF8&spc=MTo4MzcwODA4MjQ2ODEzMzE4OjE3NTI2Nzc0MDk6c3BfYXRmOjIwMDEwMTM0Mjk1MDA5ODo6MDo6&url=%2FMoney-Puzzle-Unique-People-Adults%2Fdp%2FB08FRSRHZ1%2Fref%3Dsr_1_2_sspa%3Fcrid%3D35MIQ1JXIM49H%26dib%3DeyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PUENpN9P1p9emXqz1RTGUVDM5pbLG_motj52X0iVQnE7OfbFPP1vwJInsJg48Np5rmT0qHO6X145251h0_IV4UPiPEUP_EXvesAIjq_G5V0DQl4GZAiJBRKt6SfgC74Ews7FDf1MPT_OOUHkoClMvJPqSpuQh0GMcAxA26eJ-0J5Rs7m92wDT0GiqeQdpTUbOvvPviezGmuOYY7sHsfRwQzGh3oG7gpunJLAyD2veLWJgKiiqQcVMj1ueLnNKplUh_vToqpDv55F55FIJOE7Z6WONZJq1HU0NdBNlaCsaT0.U3bYkwP9pRO0oVHkwlH6uBHDZSdMMwLyODsfdL3lV98%26dib_tag%3Dse%26keywords%3Dmoney%2Bpuzzle%2Bbox%2Bfor%2Bcash%2Bgift%26qid%3D1752677408%26sprefix%3Dmoney%2Bpuzz%252Caps%252C124%26sr%3D8-2-spons%26sp_csd%3Dd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY%26psc%3D1

another idea for next year...

I send these to my nephews (12/14), for little things - first day of school, end of school, valentines, etc.

https://www.cheryls.com/happy-birthday-cookie-card-vdy21-297291?searchTerm=card

send a book instead? is there a book you liked when you were that age? or a favorite classic - or a classic that has been updated or turned into a graphic novel.

Or any card! go to the dollar tree and get one with a silly joke. I do think it is the thought that counts!

Anonymous wrote:OP HERE
This is last year https://www.amazon.com/Ribbli-Basketball-Handmade-Greeting-Birthday/dp/B0811GDC3V

AND year before https://www.amazon.com/WOWPAPERART-Boy-Soccer-Player-Retirement/dp/B07VXTJ1NR

I'm a mom of two teen boys. Those are neat cards. I think those are good efforts.

I understand, OP, that you are planting a seed of friendship. Women/girls seem to be more buyers and consumers of cards. But you made good choices in the ones you picked. My suggestions were less novel and more corny. If I knew the kid, I would have suggested kid slang cards. But that doesn't seem like your vibe.

This card sending gesture likely will have the most impact on the mom of the kids. How she remembers and interprets the gesture and the fidelity of sending.

The joke book idea above has some merit. This is probably the last year though. Kid humor gets mature quite fast.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Some good card and joke ideas. Some seem a bit young. But I will keep at it.
TRUE we don't know each other. But I hadva great aunt I never met who sent me a bone china teacup and saucer every year. She was in her 80s I guess. I remember her name and have the cups.

Cards are different but I would like to have them have us in mind enough that someday we can meet. DH is estranged from his sister, their paternal grandmother.

The type of card doesn’t matter—you’re placing importance on it, but in reality, receiving a card (of any type) from a distant, older relative isn’t making more than a fleeting impression on a kid. If you want a relationship, you would need to start by actually meeting these kids.