My title is probably flameable, but don't take it too seriously
I just got done filling out all my thank you notes from my shower. Jeeze, it gets repetitive. I feel like I wrote the same generic thing 20 times, and mind you I really did try to make it personal to whoever gave whatever gift.
I would never think of purposely not sending thank you cards for any occasion that they would be appropriate for, but I kind of wish it wasn't expected.
I certainly couldn't care less about receiving a thank you card or not. In fact, my sis got married over two months ago and has yet to send out thank you cards...not that I care. I only am even aware of this because she happened to mention to me that she still hasn't sent them out and she hopes no one thinks she's rude.
So I'm just curious...how many of you actually care about receiving a thank you card? Do you get offended if you don't get one (I know that many probably do)? If you do get offended, why is it so important to get one? Why is the in person acknowledgement of the gift you gave at the shower not good enough?
Not trying to start an etiquette debate...I get the etiquette behind it and I make sure to send them out myself. I'm just curious I guess.
Re: Anyone else not care about thank you notes?
This is kind of an "it depends" thing for me.
If you open your gift in front of me and give me a genuine thank you, I really don't care all that much about getting a thank you.
It's when I send a gift/ don't see you open it, that I appreciate a thank you more. More so to KNOW you got it.
The one time I've been the most "put off" was a co-ed baby shower we went to last year. They didn't open gifts at the shower, and at the time, I didn't care all that much. It was much more of a party than a shower and I really didn't care (although I do tend to be a "you need to open gifts at the shower!" person).
But- their "thank you"?? It was a pre-printed photocard that came after their baby was born (which was easily 6 weeks after the shower) and all it said along w/ the baby's details was "Thank you for your love and support". That's it. Pre printed w/ their names. NOTHING handwritten. If they had at least signed their names themselves, I might have given them a pass. The end of pregnancy/ having a new baby CAN be overwhelming. I could have overlooked the lack of personization if they had at least bothered to sign their own names.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
Yes, I care about thank you notes. I care about receiving them and I wouldn't be caught dead not sending them. I send them the same day I receive a gift and my children will be taught to do the same.
I think not sending them is the rudest, most classless thing in the world. I know I sound uptight writing this, but this is one of my hills to die on.
I do expect them in most cases--birthday parties, bridal showers, weddings, other random gifts.
However, I do let some people off the hook. New moms--a verbal thanks is great, and then get back to taking care of your newborn, sleeping, whatever. Other tough situations like illnesses or deaths, I just hope people don't waste their energy on a written thank you.
My Ovulation Chart
I always just toss them when I get them in the mailBUT I definitely notice if I don't get one for a shower or wedding etc! I have been to many showers and not gotten anything and it's very frustrating! I might be even more annoyed now since I've had a shower because I know for a fact I didn't remember 90% of what people got me when I was opening and opening so it was great to get to read the list and be able to put faces to the gifts.
They are a pain in the as$ but you need to do it
Agree exactly. A handwritten thank you is nice and shows genuine appreciation. I also want to throw in 2 cents on the "pre-printed thank you". I received one of these from BIL and his GF, only thing handwritten/personalized was my address on the front (which also took 6 weeks to get to me). This irked me how impersonal it was, especially when my gift was handmade art I made for their nursery.
Oscar born October 2011
Miscarriage at 8 weeks (August 2013)
DD due September 1, 2014
Baby GIRL due 12/26