Do you do a family Christmas letter?

[vfem]

Nope... I have gotten some friends & family before and they are usually depressing with lists of all the 'poo' that happened over the year with a huge 'Happy Holiday' at the end.

I just like to send a smiling card w/ pics of my kid. Its the only thing they missed all year I am happy to share

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Quote:
I can see where this would be true. But, at a time when we weren't sure if I was going to live or die, and had no clue what was going on in my body, knowing that other people in the family had good times and bad times and made it through ok was enough to keep me going. There was a time when I thought, you know, maybe it might be easier if I just kinda went to sleep. but then I got one of those letters and thought, how would that look? This family was dealing with cancer and didn't give up, and if my mother has to write a christmas letter next year and start off by saying "well, its been a tough year. Matthew offed himself on the 1st of january because he felt sorry for himself, and it was the day before the test results came back" that might not be good

So, I kept going. Was tough, but I toughed it out

I'm not saying that one letter saved me, I'm saying the thought of my mother having to write that letter and them bring me back to kill me all over again for making her write that letter is what saved me

*i'm ascared of my mother*

Well, I'm sure glad you didn't! Yes indeedy, I recieved such a letter as that. I'm glad it wasn't about you.

 

[chicknerd]

I personally LOVE the letters. Like the OP, we do one every year, we are careful not to brag, I keep a notebook of all the letters, and on the back I do a collage of that year's photos (mine will have lots of chickens this year!). I get nothing but positive comments from the recipients. No one has ever told me dont bother sending it. My husband's parents are divorced and the letter is often the only time I send anything to the 'other' side of the family whom I have never met (and the first thing family say when I meet them is 'Thanks for the letters!). I do not send it to close friends and immediate family as we do see/contact them all the time.

I spend a lot of time doing the letter, it goes to both family and friends about 75 people. I have several family/friends who are all over the world and some a little closer but they always love getting the letter. We get about 10-15 back and often they have changes of email and addresses that are good to know. And yes, some of the news is not news because we do sometimes send email or facebook.

Sorry but we have busy lives and I dont get to email or call or write so many people and the letter is a good way to keep in touch and keep people in touch. I have a friend, who is my father's age. She was my 'surrogate' mother (until that took another meaning). I lived at her house while going to college. I had never met her before and we became good friends. She is almost 80 now, too busy traveling to contact me during the year, I never know where she is, and she LOVES the yearly letter I write. She feels she is in touch with 'her' grand children.

And I dont always get it done for Christmas

, sometimes it goes out a few days late, sometimes even later. I do it because I enjoy it and I know others enjoy getting it.

woodmort- funny you mention that Jonny graduated and went to MIT - he did. (my youngest that is

)

 

[WriterofWords]

I love hearing what the rest of my family is doing even if I can't afford it. I'm not going to hold against them their success just because I'm in a hard spot.

 

[bockbock2008]

I have one family member who writes their brag letter every single year for the past 12 years or so. The first couple years it was OK. but then it got to be a little much. Last year they talked about how they bought a new prius so save on gas money. That's nice. The next line stated how they they FLEW to pick up their new car. It was in a city that is less than 4 hours away.

I thought if I were to write one it could go something like this:

January - With trying to play catchup from the holidays, we got disconnect notices from the phone company and the electric company. Priorities first we decided to pay the electric bill so we could at least be warm. But you might not have been able to reach us through this month.

February - In february, DD started taking tumbling classes. She loves it!! I think we may have a future gymnast here. Still no phone but we are working on that. At least we are still warm. Oh, and we got a letter from the bank saying they still haven't received our Dec. payment. How exciting!!

March - On the way to tumbling classes the car broke down. $500 later, we are back on the road driving to a side job to make ends meet.

No, none of this really happened, well most of it anyway, but you get the idea.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
How is it no one ever writes that ,

We filed bankruptcy and Jane is having twins by the nextdoor neighbors son who just turned fourteen. Jack had to drop out of Harvard cuz he can't spell and his girlfriend got busted for dope selling, and the dog had to be put down for biting old lady Meddler again. Jim and I have moved to seperate ends of the house so we don't kill each other, since Millie the maid moved in nextdoor after our last trip to Tiawana. Our youngest Dumbell won the school beauty pageant. The only one who seems to be doing well is our oldest Mack since he joined the Military and got away from the lunacy. Aunt Mable had to put uncle Harry out since she caught him wearing one of her dresses and dancing around the singing , I enjoy being a girl.

I venture to say no one ever tells the truth in those things. Last one we got was all nice, nice but the bubble burst when we ran into the DD and she was dressed in a skirt so short you could see the North pole and a top so tight you could get your eyes poke out. Well not the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Just putting on airs.

Finally what makes folks think you care when they haven't been in touch since like, forever!? Shoot you folks know more of my business than some of my family. Maybe to much or not enough.

Well I don't know about you but I feel better.

Rancher

 

[cheri222]

I like the letters but wish the people I know would keep the bad to a min. One friend states every year how many years since dear nephew Bobby's tragic death (I have been receiving this letter for 12 years and bobby was 19 when he died). I also have a cousin who sends very graphic letters about dads cancer tx and son's drug rehab. I am not close to either of these people and have not seen or talked to either in 5 or more years so this seems like tmi to me. But I would feel rude asking them to exclude the letters. I do however love the family pictures and have made a scrapbook that is sectioned by family and it's great to look through it and see the kids grow up. One friend sends a picture of her Irish Wolfhounds and ducks every year. That is my very fav. I guess that sounds rude, I do care about their pain and loss I just would rather rejoyce in what I have rather than what is lost.

 

[rancher hicks]

Just in case folks think I'm completely heartless. I used to send out over 100 Christmas cards every year, but due to the economy I can't afford it. Now I know there are some who are going through rough times too, but not everyone. So now guess how many cards we get. So far two. Which makes one think they were only sending cards cuz they got one from us. Everyone of them was hand signed by me, I just went through my personal phone book and sent one to everyone cuz I know the holidays can be rough and they might need to remember what it's about.

So when folks send out those letters and you haven't spoken to them unless you run into them on the street , then the only reason to send them IMO is to show off. Not cuz they think you care. Maybe what should be sent is a "How you doing" letter.

 

[Olive Hill]

Here's the thing, if I didn't keep in contact and ask how your family is doing all year long what in the world makes people think I care at Christmas? I don't! If I did, I would have called, written, stopped by... I would have ASKED where Johnny was planning to go to college. This really seems like common sense to me, but apparently, judging by the number of these atrocious things that show up in the mailbox each year it's more like rocket science.

And if I do care, I kept in contact, which means I would already KNOW about everything in the letter. (Interestingly, no one I care about enough to keep in contact with sends them. Coincidence? Probably not.

)

 

[kuntrygirl]

No, I do not have a family Christmas letter. I hate getting them and I don't like getting Christmas cards. Christmas cards are a waste of money. I throw them in the trash as soon as I get them. I do not send that CRAP out to people.

Save the trees, your postage and your time! Don't buy Christmas cards. I could scream when co-workers slide those things in my mailbox. Makes me irritated.

Does anyone really read those generic Christmas cards?

I know that I sure don't.