What do you think of form letters in Christmas cards?
I don't like them. At the very least they are impersonal and at the worst they are self absorbed ( I see a couple of those every year). Most of the time I don't read them. Every year Tim and I joke about sending one out like this: Well it has been business as usual at our house. Tim still hates his job and Judi put on another 10 lbs. Brian still doesn't have his act together at school and Jack spends all his time playing video games. But he has mastered another level! |
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| I have never used them and wouldn't; however, the times I have received one... I felt they were appropriate due to the amount this person was sending out. Ex: Soldier wanting to give an overall update on himself and sending the card to a number of people.
I DO NOT expect it from family and would think it was weird. |
| Most of the time when I received them they are self centered and pompous. Every once in a while, you get one from an older family member that is just sad and depressing about how they are getting older, etc.
I think a short and basic form letter about big happenings is fine but I still think that you should include a handwritten note that is specific to the person. I like your note, Judi!! I've often thought of putting out a sarcastic one but most of Bob's side could never figure out who those other people were when we signed the dog's names to the cards. I think they would take me seriously!! |
| I agree.....I think the short and basic ones are ok. |
Darn, I was thinking this year, for the first time, I would actually put one together only for family we haven't seen for a long while who have absolutely no idea what is going on in our lives. I was going to try and make it funny. We spend about 8-10 hours each year just creating our own card and when it comes time to when we actually finished printing them, most of the time I just put a stamp on and sign our names. I probably would be writing the same thing in a written note, but at least with the form letter, they can read it okay since my handwriting is so sloppy.  |
| I'll buck the trend and say I like them.
One of our friends usually runs on for 3 or 4 pages and tells every detail about every extended family member. I think it must be nice for their family so that everyone knows what everyone else is doing. As a friend though, it's a little much, although Joan loves it. Then again, Joan can actually remember their grandchildren's names and I can't. The first time I ever got one was from one friend who has since passed on. I'd love to get another one from him telling about his global travels and his philanthropic undertakings.  |
| I don't know. They don't particularly bug me, but I'm not going to be sending one out anytime soon.
I haven't gotten one since I was a kid (it was mostly family friends who sent them) and I remember I usually liked reading about what was going on in their lives. Occasionally they were boring. I always felt bad, too, if there were like 2 kids and one kid got a whole paragraph and the other one got a sentence! I guess it depends on what's in them and who sends them as to whether or not they bother me. |
barney1 wrote: I always felt bad, too, if there were like 2 kids and one kid got a whole paragraph and the other one got a sentence!
LOL - that was what the letters were like from one of my aunts that we got when I was growing up.  She wrote whole paragraghs on her 2 daughters and barely a sentence about her son!
I like getting the lettes for the most part. The ones I get are well written and a nice update of friends and family we don't get to see that often. I do have one I get from one of my cousins (not the daughter of the above - different family) that is so full of religion and "we are blessed" , etc. that it about gags a person. We are the same age and she never was like this growing up. (We both grew up religious, , but not this EXTREME) She married later than me, had kids way later (they are in elementary, mine are grown) and quit her nursing job to home school. She is also a very neurotic parent, and I have no idea where this came from. Anyway, we are still awaiting the arrival of their card and letter this year!  |
| I'm just sitting here trying to remember if I've ever gotten one. I know my SIL sent one out a few years ago, but I think that's the only one I've ever received.
I like hand written notes in cards, though. It's much more personal, IMO. |
Maxmm wrote: Most of the time when I received them they are self centered and pompous. Every once in a while, you get one from an older family member that is just sad and depressing about how they are getting older, etc.
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My sister sends one out every year telling of all the achievements of her children and how wonderful they are. OF COURSE each child is a honor student, Eagle Scout, has the lead in the class play, raised lots of money for charity and is good looking on top of it all. They drive me ABSOLUTELY CRAZY, my kids on the other hand struggle, get in trouble, have dabbled in drugs and alcohol, actually got suspended a time or two, haven't always gotten stellar grades, have brought home creepy dates, wreck cars, and one even got arrested once for a minor infraction. Wouldn't you love to see THAT LETTER!!!!!!!!! If someone doesn't think enough of me to stay in touch throughout the year to keep me apprised of their "doings" I don't want a form letter telling me only the "good" stuff. |
Tasker's Mom wrote: , raised lots of money for charity and is good looking on top of it all.
They drive me ABSOLUTELY CRAZY, my kids on the other hand struggle, get in trouble, have dabbled in drugs and alcohol, actually got suspended a time or two, haven't always gotten stellar grades, have brought home creepy dates, wreck cars, and one even got arrested once for a minor infraction. Wouldn't you love to see THAT LETTER!!!!!!!!! Actually, I would LOVE to see that letter! Much more entertaining and real than a lot of the other letters that get sent out... |
| Depends on the person doing the sending....
We received one last week that was fun and lighthearted. Nice to read and fun to hear about friends that we rarely see, but are always in our hearts. On the heels of that one came one from someone that writes like she talks... ME ME ME. No real substance, just bragging - even threw in the salary of her son who seems to be doing very well. We read it-- and laughed at how "humble" she is |
| id have to say that i like some of them and some of them are too much....a lot of blah blah blah......
i just like a personal sentiment in a card....although, ginnys letter would have been entertaining...... |
| an old cousin of my dad would include me when he sent out his christmas letter. He lived on the Isle of Wight he was blind and in his late 80s . His letters were always so entertaining, full of chit chat, funny stories and it sure made me feel good to be included in the family even if I was on the other side of the pond and had never met him other than through letters . |
| I must admit, I have read SOME Christmas letters that were well written and enjoyable. It's when they go on ad nauseum about how wonderful the year (and they) have been that it becomes tiresome. |
Tasker's Mom wrote: I must admit, I have read SOME Christmas letters that were well written and enjoyable. It's when they go on ad nauseum about how wonderful the year (and they) have been that it becomes tiresome.
haha....you really ARE a ba-humbug arent you????? I love you Ginny, you really do make me laugh more often than not!!!! |
Darcy wrote: haha....you really ARE a ba-humbug arent you?????
I love you Ginny, you really do make me laugh more often than not!!!! Yup, that WOULD be me  . So glad to have some purpose in life (making you laugh)  |
Tasker's Mom wrote: I must admit, I have read SOME Christmas letters that were well written and enjoyable. It's when they go on ad nauseum about how wonderful the year (and they) have been that it becomes tiresome.
I have to agree with you except I have never read any that were well written and enjoyable. Usually just self-absorbed and bragging OR boring. AND I am not bah-humbug, quite the opposite. But I have to ask myself - does anyone really care what my kids are doing? Or my dog? (except for the froum people) Or do they care what maintenance I am doing on my house? I find that I enjoy a picture of their family or kids and I will send one of those occasionally to the people I THINK would like a picture. Otherwise only a handful of people get a handwritten note of things that I think might be of interest to them. |
Maxmm wrote: Most of the time when I received them they are self centered and pompous. Every once in a while, you get one from an older family member that is just sad and depressing about how they are getting older, etc. ...
...and it seems the older these people get the worse their letters get.  I was taken aback when we received "the letter" from a dear friend that started out "March witnessed our only granddaughter quit high school and leave home... we pray for her." The letter goes on to tell of trips to the cardiac surgeon and the woes of old age. Very sad because there was a time we actually looked forward to hearing of all the exotic places our friends traveled to. If you don't have something upbeat and interesting to say, don't send a "summary of gloom and doom". Some of us actually try to be happy during the holidays. |
| If you have read above, you know I posted about my cousin who sends the super religious brag letter every year. Well, this years "edition" just came in today's mail. This one beats all!!
It is a brochure.  Yes, a real brochure. It is printed on glossy card stock paper, in a trifold format. There is an intro (praise to God, scriptures, so blessed are we humble servants, etc.) Then it goes into their Christian based home schooling, the fun and educational vacations out west (with many religious references). Each trifold section is a season of the year. There are nice pictures of them and the kids and their dog. That part I love. |
AZre you SURE your Cousin and my sister aren't the same??? Sounds like HER letters  |
| why cant these people just dress up and pose their dogs for their christmas cards like us normal people??! |
| ROTFLMAO |
Lil Walty wrote: why cant these people just dress up and pose their dogs for their christmas cards like us normal people??!
YES, that's it exactly!!!! |
| I don't mind them at all..... unless it's all bragging.
Then I just want to vomit. |
| I don't mind them at all and I'm interested to know what they've been up to. I know if you've got a huge amount to send off they can be helpful as although it's nice to recieve a personal note , it's not always possible.
On the other hand there are people like me that didn't even sign their name as it was already on the card....cough cough...umm that would have been me this year. 
Marianne So here's my form letter, which ya'll are gonna hate.
28 odd furkids are pooping eating and playing enjoying the good life, Merlin still goes on crumb patrol nightly and counter surfs when given the chance. I rise at 5:00 am every morning and fill bowls, open 4 cans of cat food daily, and rinse and replace water bowls, chop assorted veggies and make sure everyone has a full belly before I head off to work. I repeat this procedure at dinner time. At lunch time I never eat in the staff room but head out and race to the stores to purchase fresh veggies (multi-task) Every couple days I scrub pens and clean out litter boxes daily. On Saturday I spent 10 hours scrubbing, disinfecting and washing all the critters stuff. Some mornings I drop off foster cats at the vets for spaying before I rush to work, hand out meds, apply creams or just give some TLC. Weekends I'm usually at the spca at least once hanging around in hopes my fosters get adopted..so far 8 of the ten have but means hanging around the shelter all day. I also take 3 dogs out for individual walks. Petunia, Mickey and Sable all recently have had surgery and my pocket book is empty but I did manage to treat myself the other day and dig in the bottom of my purse and came up with enough coins to buy myself a Big Mac, small fries and milkshake. Oh yum! I don't remember the last time I had one. The parents at my school keep bringing me lunches as they keep telling me I'm skinny. Ha! I'm not skinny I'm petite I tell them while flexing my huge arm muscles. Once a week after work, I feed over 50 netuered and spayed bunnies for Small Animal Rescue shelter. I stop at a farm produce place and what they don't donate I purchase so bunnies can have fresh veggies. I'm exhausted, my two upright boys are fine, I got writers cramp when my printer broke and my school is in the midst of seismic upgrade so no working computers at school. I wrote out 60 something OES, and another 20 odd addresses and my return address my hand...just couldn't even write a personal note..so there you have it. 
PS not even complaining or bragging as all this is said with laughter in my voice as nothing compares to be greeted by warm fuzzy bodies when I return home. This is what I dreamed of doing as a kid when I grew up.
PS May you and your families all have a wonderful holiday, Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. Marianne |
| Very well said, Marianne.
People like you and I are doing the things we love, while others may see it as work, or even worse, as a waste of time. |
| I don't mind getting form letters at holiday time. I accept them in the spirit with which they are given. |
| Speaking of holiday form letters......
A friend of our family sent one with her christmas card today, and in the second paragraph...she mentioned that she and her husband have added a new member to the family....an Old English Sheepdog!! She said it is a "special needs" OES with severe allergies. She didn't say if he was a rescue...so I'm not sure where they got him from. I'm excited to hear all about him though and I will tell her she must check out OES.ORG. Anyway....I just wanted to share this with you.
~~~~~~~~ Teresa |
VerveUp wrote: Darn, I was thinking this year, for the first time, I would actually put one together only for family we haven't seen for a long while who have absolutely no idea what is going on in our lives. I was going to try and make it funny.
I think making it funny, poking fun at your kids mishaps and just in gernal give info, but with a comedic twist is a awsome idea. My kids act out sometimes too and I am big on procratinating so to get a letter together and mailed....well it's just not happening, but I enjoy any mail (ie, cards letters) other than junk or bills. I've only recieved one form letter to date is was boring, but still nice. |
| i like getting them. it lets me know what people i havent seen or heard from in some time are doing.......
if i know someone that doesn't like them, i won't send one...... ali |
This is very new to me but since we moved to America I have been sending these letters out - only 1 page though. I suppose my excuse is that I don't think I am able to hand write 40 something letters in Hungarian and in English to let everybody know where and when we are moving and that this year our biggest news was the new addition to our family in March, Bonifác (Boni)!!!! 
I like to make a Christmas card with all of us on it and I always write something personal on that. |
| My initial reaction is Boo. But I've recently gotten several that I really enjoyed. One was from someone here at the forum. Since we all don't really know each other, it was great! It gave me a little history of them. I really liked it. And I'm thinking of doing it next year! So...my opinion has changed to YIPPEE! |
| I'm fine with them. One set of friends sends theirs out as an annual family quiz: multiple choice style. Very amusing--and informative. I look forward to it every year.
Maybe it's just that I don't get them from pretentious people or maybe it's just that I don't feel bad if other people are having better years/more accomplishments than we have had. A small hand written note is a great addition. |
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