Ever just decide not to send christmas cards?

[mtemm]

I send them every year and every year I enjoy doing it. This year we just moved and I'm tired and still unpacking and stressed about getting the kids pictures done so we can get cards done and in the mail. Today I started thinking that I think I will skip them this year...and instead of feeling bad I felt like weight was lifted off of my shoulders.

I'm guessing most people will get over not receiving one card, right? lol.

Anyone else skip a year?

 

[dbarker]

If the feeling you have is relief and not guilt, then you are doing to right thing. Christmas should be a time for added stress. Enjoy the season and let the magic happen.

By the way, I never send cards. It is OK not to send cards.

 

[Cruisin]

Sure I have skipped several years at a time or only sent a very few out to people I won't be seeing during the Holidays.

Don't send the cards and don't stress about it.

 

[scrump]

I wouldn't stress about it. I only send them out when I'm feeling it. This year just happens to be one of those years. No big deal!

 

[DisneyDotty]

I may be joining you in not sending out cards this year. Just don't have the energy for it. And look at it this way--we'll also be contributing to less stress for the postal workers!

 

[minkydog]

I have had years when I just couldn't do it due to depression or illness. Nobody said a thing. They sent me their cards, which i enjoyed and not one of them wrote me off their list. The next year, when I was better able to cope, I sent out cards and nobody said a thing. Either way, I guess they were happy

(Personally, I enjoy sending cards. I write a fall letter every year catching everyone up on the kids. Our families live far away and don't see us very often and they like to get the letter in their Christmas card. But they know how chaotic our lives are and don't get bent outta shape by things like my mailing list.)

 

[MScott1851]

I'm debating over sending them this year. Last year we sent out almost 50 cards, and it was a nightmare tracking down addresses. It seems like all of our friends are still in the transition to adulthood phase, they are in and out of apartments, trying to build and move into new houses, getting new jobs, having kids and moving to different houses, etc. It's a lot to keep up with!

 

[aprilgail2]

Last year I started crossing people off my list that had not send me one in 2 years.....I send out a lot of cards and have gotten to the point where if you haven't sent one to me then I don't bother either....one cousin was upset asking "how come I didn't get a card and a picture of your daughter"...I just said well you don't send them out so I figured you didn't want to exchange anymore....

 

[epcotfan]

I hate sending Christmas cards. I always feel obliged to because other people send them.

 

[Marseeya]

Release yourselves from the guilt!

Several years ago I didn't send them because I wasn't feeling well with health problems and depression. Then the next year it was something different. Then I'd just gotten out of the habit.

Little by little I started receiving fewer cards, which was fine because I don't want cards out of obligation anyway!

I've been card free for quite a few years and I'm comfortable with it. Maybe someday I'll feel joy in sending them again, but until then I'm fine with not doing it.

 

[marlasmom]

Many years ago I used to send out 200 cards. One year I just plain didn't do it and then the following years I didn't do it either. The ones I receive have trickled off to very few. I do communicate at different times with people I care about - but no more to the lady I met on a bus a million years ago. It's so freeing.

 

[EdiePA]

I took a year off when my EX husband left that October. It was just too painful. The next year I wrote a breezy little newsletter that chronicled "why you didn't hear from us last year" and updating on my son's lives.

I think I'm down to about 10 cards -- and I enjoy it. What's so special about getting a card with just somebody's signature? If you aren't going to write a personal note, then why bother?

Less stress
Edie

 

[Kitty 34]

I know how you feel. I just got back from WDW having been a trip coordinator for 160 band students and parents. Plus I'm in a long term subbing job so I have been very very busy. I'm just now dragging out some of my Christmas things which usually I put up a week ago!

 

[barbeml]

I stopped sending cards the Christmas after 9/11: the major post office in our area was one of the anthrax victims, so anything that would alleviate mail flow was appreciated.

I only send a written card to an elderly relative who I don't see anymore...I always send a chatty note, because I know she looks forward to it. Other than that, I send e-cards to a select list.

No guilt. I give thoughtful gifts, decorate my house, cook, bake and entertain all month long. That's more than enough. I hate dealing with Christmas cards and don't miss it.

 

[Chattyaholic]

There was only one year that I didn't send cards, and that was back in the late 1980's when my Dad had quadruple bypass surgery. Just too concerned about him to think about writing/sending cards.

I send about 30 out each year, but am seriously considering paring it down a little this year.

 

[BWVDenise]

Card-free

 

[golfgal]

We didn't send them last year, which we should have because we moved and hadn't sent out change of address cards to friends/relatives. We bought cards already so we will send them out this year. I am just waiting for DH to get our letter done (he does a funny one and we got a LOT of calls last year asking why they didn't get DH's letter).

 

[Missy1961]

I don't send alot (I'm single, no kids). But I'm sending them this year. I went to WDW on a solo trip in September, really liked some of the PhotoPass pictures taken there and since the PhotoPass pictures can be made into greeting cards, I decided to go for it. So family & friends (about 35 people in all) are getting a picture of me at WDW!

But I understand why you wouldn't do it--why add stress to lives already filled with it?

 

[bananiem]

A friend of mine sends Valentine letters. It's like a Christmas letter only we get it in February. Her kids have Dec. and Jan. birthdays and add in the holidays and it's too much to get letters out too. It's kind of fun to get one in February.
OTOH, if you haven't sent out change of address notices to everybody, a Christmas letter is a good time to do it. I did that last year. We moved in November and I sent out our letters in early December so everybody would have our new address for their cards.

 

[minniecarousel]

We didn't send any out last year because we were at Disneyland from the 20 - 23 (I know, I should have done them earlier.) But I sent postcards from there to DH & my aunts and uncles. I think they'd be surprised if we didn't keep in touch in that way.