I HATE writing 'Thank You' cards!

[Brianne]

I understand what you're saying.

I wish typed notes were acceptable! I don't mind sending thank you notes, and I do believe they should be sent. However, after 20+ years of typing, any small amount of handwriting gives me serious hand cramps. Yet, even with all the technology out there now, it seems like society still frowns on anything other than actual handwritten notes. I hate the fact that I have to take meds before sitting down to write thank you notes or Christmas cards!

 

[lillygator]

I don't really mind writing out thank you's but I was brought up sending thank you notes for absolutely everything and will have my girls do the same. I feel it is a nice touch as well as polite. I know at my wedding I didn't go around thanking so and so for the blender etc...at the time I was much to excited about my day to remember who gave me what.
We attended one of our friend's weddings a huge affair at the Ritz Carlton, we sent them gifts from Williams Sonoma off their registry and never got a thank you at all...of course thanks for coming....well next thing you know she got pregnant...we were at thier house one day and I commented on her china etc, she said oh yeah, didn't you buy us one of those? I never sent cards and now being pregnant I doubt I will! ugghhhh - I would have just appreciated a little thank you note to know it arrived safely.

 

[princess pooh]

I ended up writing about 200 of the thank you notes since DH would go through 5 cards before getting one right (I actually had to order more because of that). I would reward myself after every 20 notes I wrote

It wasn't fun but people were so happy to get them...I got thanked for the thank you notes!

 

[Magickndm]

To me, if some takes the time to do something nice or give me something, then I can find 3 minutes out of my life to write a thank you note.
I felt like I was pulling teeth to get my daughter to write thank you notes until I made a new rule. She cannot spend the money or gift card (she's a teen, so approximately 99% of the gifts she gets are one or the other) until she writes a thank you note. She has a pad of pre stamped post cards to make it a little easier. They're the perfect size to say a sweet thank you.

 

[Chicago526]

I don't know what the big deal is. I have never in my life received a "Thank You" card for anything I have ever given, and really? Didn't expect one... I don't think that is something we DO in our family, or within my group of "friends" either. Think I will stay in my own world, it is much easier here.

Can I join you in your world?


Someone mentioned it takes 3 minutes to write out a thank you card. My problem is that I have 50 cards to write! So 3 min. per card x 50 = hand cramps.

 

[NMAmy]

I don't mind writing them myself--I appreciate someone taking the time to get me a gift so I make the effort.

HOWEVER, DH and I recently renewed our vows and had a small reception at our home. The invitations specified--please no gifts because we really didn't need anything. We were married out of state and just wanted to celebrate with our family and friends.

I was a tad annoyed that I had to make a special trip to the store to buy thank you notes for all those that had given gifts anyway. I mean, it was sweet of them but we REALLY didn't need anything!

 

[mickeyboat]

Sorry, you won't get any sympathy from me. I hate it when people complain about writing thank you notes. Yes, they are a drag, but a gift-giver deserves at least some acknowledgement for the time, effort and $ spent on you, and some reassurance that you are enjoying the gift. If it can't be done in person, is a little note that hard to produce? You can for the most part say the same thing over and over.

It can be overwhelming to try to do them all at one time, but just break the chore into several sessions. You will be done in no time, and will feel better having done them.

Denae

 

[Chicago526]

Sorry, you won't get any sympathy from me. I hate it when people complain about writing thank you notes. Yes, they are a drag, but a gift-giver deserves at least some acknowledgement for the time, effort and $ spent on you, and some reassurance that you are enjoying the gift. If it can't be done in person, is a little note that hard to produce? You can for the most part say the same thing over and over.
It can be overwhelming to try to do them all at one time, but just break the chore into several sessions. You will be done in no time, and will feel better having done them.

Denae

That's exactly my point! I'm writing thank you's to people I thanked in person! I don't mind writing the ones to those that sent gifts but didn't attend the wedding, that I understand completely! I just don't get having to send a note to someone I already said "thank you" to!

 

[mommytotwo]

For my cousin's wedding, they had one of those picture cards of the bride and groom-a cute black and white photo. And they included a small message.

 

[WishingOnAStar]

I also feel that if someone takes the time (and $) to buy you a gift, you need to acknowledge it - in writing. My children all know that thank you notes must be done and all of them do it with no complaints b/c of how we put it to them (see above).
It may not be fun, but it is necessary.

 

[mickeyboat]

That's exactly my point! I'm writing thank you's to people I thanked in person! I don't mind writing the ones to those that sent gifts but didn't attend the wedding, that I understand completely! I just don't get having to send a note to someone I already said "thank you" to!

Did you open your gifts in front of your guests? Did you individually thank each person for their specific gift? In that case I might let you slide. But if it were me, I would still take the time to write the note.

Denae

 

[sleepyone]

I wrote thank you notes after my wedding and I don't know what happened, if they got lost in the mail or what, but about half of my guests didn't receive them!!! My mom kept telling me to send them again, but I didn't. They were already expensive enough. I just apologized to everyone I talked to.

I hate thank you notes.

The same exact thing happened to me!

 

[leighe]

I am in the middle of writing thank yous for my baby shower on Saturday. While I agree that it gets old after a while I would never dream of not writing them. I guess it's the way I was brought up. My mom totally remembers who she hasn't gotten thank you notes from for wedding gifts, etc. I don't but I guess some people do keep up with it.

 

[Maleficent13]

One of the reasons I didn't have a wedding. No presents = no thank you notes!

 

[Christine]

The reason thank you notes are necessary for weddings especially is because you are really not supposed to open wedding gifts and the reception. It's one of those "old" etiquette things. In fact, most etiquette dictates that gifts be sent to the bride's home prior to or after the wedding. Of course people always bring gifts to the wedding. But, I have yet to go to a wedding where the bride and groom opened their gifts.

 

[Saphire]

I don't think anybody actually likes writing than-you notes, but it falls under the category of responsibilities we must do. I mean, I don't want to go food shopping, buy gifts for the teachers, rsvp that invitiation I received, go back out to a meeting in the evening...but we do all these things because it is the proper thing to do. Just because it's not fun or even hurts doesn't mean we shouldn't do it. My husband and I joke all the time..."our life is filled with have-to's". Yes, writing thank-you notes is just one of those "have-to's".

 

[WDWAurora]

Christine-In the "old" days they did! I even have pictures from my parents wedding of them opening their gifts after they'd changed. This was 35ish years ago. What we did was do our official "leaving in the car" and went to my parents' house, changed clothes, gave a few minutes for everyone to leave, and close family and friends stayed while we opened gifts. Then we loaded them in our car and took them to our apartment since we weren't leaving until the next day.

BTW-Everybody got a thank you note, even those who saw us open the gifts. Actually, even MIL got one, so it was TRULY everybody (except my parents, but they didn't want one). (Aside from the one written and laying on my coffee table-no one seems to have their address!! The directory we got it from has since disappeared and we aren't sure where else to look)

 

[mickeyboat]

We actually had a brunch at MIL's on Sunday morning for family, friends and out of town guests. We opened our gifts at that time. I still felt we should sent notes to thank the donors properly.

Denae

 

[scubamouse]

you can make it more manageable if you make a template. one for people who were there and one for people who weren't. something like this:

thank you very much for ________. DH and I use it/are looking forward to using it. It was very thoughtful and generous of you blah blah blah. thank you for sharing our special day blah blah blah.

yes it's a PITA but you can make it really easy on yourself by basically standardizing what you say. And ask your DH to do some - make it a couples project

 

[KimR]

I hate writing them too. I was brought up to always write a thank-you note for any gift received in the mail or for that matter, any gift which we are unable to personally thank the giver. Otherwise, no thank-you note is required. That's what I was taught, at least. However, it seems to be the custom also to write thank-you notes for shower gifts (both wedding and baby) as well, which I have always done.

But now it seems people are starting to write thank-you notes for birthday gifts given at birthday parties. I really don't see the purpose of that unless it's to get children in the habit of writing thank-yous but I honestly think it's overkill. I've taught my children the same way I was taught - if the person is not there to personally thank a note is a must, otherwise a verbal thank you is sufficient. But now, I'm starting to feel the pressure to conform and I'm wondering if people think we're rude for not writing notes.