logo
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4
#360638 12/18/07 11:30 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,438
F
Chipmunk
OP Offline
Chipmunk
F
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,438
Everyone sends out those holiday cards nowadays with pictures of their kids or their family on them, and a pre-printed message. Does it strike anyone else as a little odd when people's cards have pictures of the kids, but not the parents? What do you think is the reasoning behind that?

When I was a kid, no one did this picture card thing yet, so it makes me wonder how I would feel if my parents had made me pose for a picture by myself or with my brother, and sent them out to a whole bunch of people. I don't think I would have liked it when I was old enough to understand. I'm not a really show-boaty kind of person, so maybe I'm just missing something. Also, my husband says maybe it's one of those things you can't understand why unless you have kids.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love receiving whatever cards I get, and even love seeing the kid pictures immensely, it's just when I get one with only the kids, I wish the parents were in it too. They're the ones I've known for 20 years and want to see again. Seeing the kids is really fun, but what are they, show dogs?

Also, the whole showing off kids through holiday cards is one of the traditions I'm not sure how to handle as a CF person. I have to think of something else besides the easy-out of just using my kids. I haven't started using the pets yet, but I'm getting tempted.

Sponsored Post Advertisement
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 48
S
Newbie
Offline
Newbie
S
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 48
I think I'd use a piccy of our home, it's a small unit but I'm proud of what we have. Or maybe I should just use a piccy of my special muffins.... since that's the essence of what those parents are doing really, just showing off what they produced.

softstuff #360673 12/19/07 02:29 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 208
M
Shark
Offline
Shark
M
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 208
I have to confess - I am one of those people who does the picture on the card. Only it is actually of our dogs, at Christmas, posed in front of the Christmas tree with sparkly purple reindeer antlers on. Alternatively, people received photos of our dogs with a Santa sack and Santa hats on their heads.

We found it fun to wash the boys, teach them to sit there with the antlers/hats on and to pose for the camera. We printed out all the cards on the photo-printer at home and then I hand wrote all of the cards. Personally, I think the sparkly antlers were great and they went well with our Christmas tree. If you like I can post a couple of photos from last year.

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 275
Shark
Offline
Shark
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 275
I am so glad you brought up this topic! I am not a huge fan of these cards, but have no issue if there is a handwritten note. It does not have to be long. A simple "Happy Holidays" and a signature will suffice.

This year, we received a card from my brother, sister in law and new baby. The card had a picture of the baby on it and was printed with happy holidays. There was no note, no signature, nothing.

It is enough to get these unsigned cards from aquaintances. But from your brother and sister-in-law??? I was irked.

Chaco #360681 12/19/07 04:35 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 998
Parakeet
Offline
Parakeet
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 998
Chaco, I can top you on the unsigned card issue. My graduation gift from my own grandfather was an unsigned card. I haven't heard from him since. It's been almost 9 years.

Back to the topic at hand. I don't generally like preprinted greeting cards. I prefer to write my own sentiments. On the rare occasions anyone receives a prefab card from me, it's because I found it humorous. I considered sending out cards this year (I found a cute, funny design), but passed on the idea. Maybe next year...

As for the photo cards, I firmly believe parents that send Family photos are only meaning to show distant friends and family what their family looks like each year. But parents that send Kids Only photos are either bragging about their little sweethearts, or hiding from the camera because the little sweethearts have worn them to a visible frazzle.


Happily Living The Childfree Life!
M.B. #360695 12/19/07 09:13 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,002
L
Koala
Offline
Koala
L
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,002
I was trying to convince my sister the other night to take a family photo, but she said she didn't have time to clean up. :-) She also said it's a tradition to send out my nephew's annual pic at Christmas (his birthday is in December.) So, instead I struggled for 3 hours trying to get both kids happy at the same time.

I was thinking the same thing this year as I have been receiving the cards. All these kids - I want to see the parents! My husband's relative even sends us pictures of her grandkids! And then we also get a picture of those kids from their parents! Lord! I want to see a family. I remember that we USED to get pics of families in the Christmas card.

I will admit that I LOVE getting the Christmas letter. I'm very interested in what everyone has been up to all year. I wish I got one with every card, because I think that sending cards is kind of stupid and a waste of time. I don't do it anymore.

M.B. #360697 12/19/07 09:17 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,344
Chipmunk
Offline
Chipmunk
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,344
Love this topic! I prefer the family ones. The parents are the ones I have a relationship with, I'd like to see them. And, if you happen upon the card months later, I'm always like, who's baby is this? I agree that the parents are probably showing off when they send pix of the baby alone. For me, the baby is cute if I know the baby personally. Otherwise, it's just another baby.

I think it also speaks to people's general fascination with their own offspring. I find it interesting that this is allowed, but if we constantly went on and on about our accomplishments in the work world, etc., people would think we were egomaniacs.

I know a couple that is trying to have kids. The guy is an artist. I would love to see him make a Christmas postcard of something he drew during the year. After all, that's a creation, too.

We used one of our wedding photos on a card this year. It served a couple of purposes - telling people we got married, a holiday greeting, and also giving them our new address in Florida. People seemed to really like it. We aren't going to do that every year, though.

I love what Myrabeth said above that only the kids are in the photo b/c the parents have been so beat down by their lives. I bet there is some truth to that. We received one baby card this year and the gal that had the baby (an acquaintance at best) gained tons of weight. I know she's not dying to circulate photos of herself. But her life is all about the baby now, passing the torch. Why would she send photos of herself? All about her offspring now.


Save your own life - don't have kids!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,002
L
Koala
Offline
Koala
L
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,002
Originally Posted By: happytobechildfree
We used one of our wedding photos on a card this year. It served a couple of purposes - telling people we got married, a holiday greeting, and also giving them our new address in Florida. People seemed to really like it. We aren't going to do that every year, though.


Yeah, it would be quite silly if 15 years from now you were still sending out your wedding photo. ;-) Sorry, couldn't resist! I think the year that we got married was the only year that we sent out Christmas cards.

Oh, and speaking of parents' fascination with children, get this. When we got married, we ordered 3X5 pictures of our wedding party as Christmas presents for his dad's family. My MIL ordered the same pic, and then made copies of that and sent it out in all her Christmas cards without telling us so that she could announce that her first child got married.

It ticked me off that she was sending these pics of us out to everyone she knew. But then when she saw what we got all the aunts and uncles for Christmas, she was kind of mad because everyone was amused "oh, we already got this picture ... thanks ..." WELL we didn't KNOW they already got the picture, AND why was MIL ticked at US? I think she thought we were making her look bad or something crazy like that.

Hey, it's MY wedding, MY picture. You should have asked me first before sending it to everyone.

lngilbert #360707 12/19/07 10:06 AM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 862
Parakeet
Offline
Parakeet
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 862
My parents did the Christmas cards with pictures of my brother and me when we were little. I don't remember the pictures ever having them in it with us, probably because my dad was the one taking the pictures. I do remember fighting mightily with my brother about having to stand next to him to have our picture taken! (Bad sibling rivalry, we're over it now!) I'm sure we drove our parents nuts at those times. It is kind of fun to look back on those Christmas pictures now (especially the one where I was wearing my rainbow striped pants! Hey, it was the 70s!)

My hubby and I have sent out printed cards with us and the dogs, and I think we did ones with just the dogs. We always signed them ourselves though. I think Shutterfly now has an option that they will send the cards FOR you if you provide the addresses and pay the postage. That is a little impersonal, to me. I agree, it would be nice to see the adult humans in the family as well as the kids. Pets are always a plus!

Cindy

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 709
Gecko
Offline
Gecko
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 709
Oh man, this is classic:
Quote:
Or maybe I should just use a piccy of my special muffins.... since that's the essence of what those parents are doing really, just showing off what they produced.



"Men and women think that it is necessary to have children. It is not. It is their animal nature and social custom, rather than reason, which makes them believe that this is a necessity." --Democritus
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4

Link Copied to Clipboard
Brand New Posts
Summer Tie-dyeing Options
by Cheryl - Sewing Editor - 07/16/25 02:13 PM
Psalm for the day
by Angie - 07/10/25 08:26 AM
Summer Picnic Projects to Sew
by Cheryl - Sewing Editor - 07/09/25 09:07 AM
Fruit of the Day
by Angie - 07/07/25 08:45 AM
"Something to Hide" on PBS Masterpiece
by Angela - Drama Movies - 07/04/25 10:57 PM
Scrappy Fabric Ideas from A to Z
by Cheryl - Sewing Editor - 07/02/25 01:44 PM
Natural Dyes for Fabric
by Cheryl - Sewing Editor - 06/20/25 12:44 PM
Sponsor
Safety
We take forum safety very seriously here at BellaOnline. Please be sure to read through our Forum Guidelines. Let us know if you have any questions or comments!
Privacy
This forum uses cookies to ensure smooth navigation from page to page of a thread. If you choose to register and provide your email, that email is solely used to get your password to you and updates on any topics you choose to watch. Nothing else. Ask with any questions!


| About BellaOnline | Privacy Policy | Advertising | Become an Editor |
Website copyright © 2022 Minerva WebWorks LLC. All rights reserved.


Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5