We have been receiving beautiful Christmas cards for weeks now. I have a thing about Christmas cards. I love doing them. I always have a photo taken of the kiddos just for this purpose. I get religious cards, and even buy the Madonna and Child stamps, and get a really good pen, so that everything is "just so". I wait until the kids are in bed, and then I turn on one of the silly Lifetime Christmas movies and write out my cards. It's a ritual. It takes a few hours, and more than a few dollars, but I love staying in touch with people, even if it's only once a year.
I didn't do them this year. Between lack of time, money, and availability of children for a photo, it just wasn't going to happen. I feel guilt. Tremendous guilt. My husband didn't even blink, he thought it was just fine to not send out cards. I can't even bring myself to hang the ones we have gotten because I feel like I don't deserve them when I didn't send any out. I know that is pretty silly, since they are here and all, but the whole not sending cards thing is not sitting well with me. I don't know why I feel so much guilt over it, or the fact that I am not baking a lot this year, or that we have trimmed everything back so far that I feel like a big, fat GRINCH. The cards were simply the first thing to go, but they are such a big part of the season. I love sending them almost as much as I love getting them. So, if you sent me a card, and I didn't send you one back, please forgive me. I still love you and your family! I don't want to be rude, and it was necessary, but still...I FEEL SO RUDE. Ugh. Just another version of the feminine guilt we all tote around with us I suppose.
So, did you send cards out this year? If you chose not to, are you feeling the guilt I am feeling, or did you make the cut without batting an eye?
I feel the exact same way that you do about Christmas cards. I always make sure that everything is "just so" and I take 100 photos to get the "perfect" shot. This year? I'm not sure why, but I just never found the time or got around to it even though it has been in the back of my head for over a month. I've been feeling guilty too, and my husband keeps saying, "Who cares? I doubt anyone has noticed anyway." And that makes me feel both better and worse.
ReplyDeleteI have had a couple of friends send out a "Christmas card email" with a photo for each month, and a little note to say "Merry Christmas" which I thought was cute. I am thinking about doing that for Christmas and sending out 'happy new year' cards instead. Something to think about anyway.
HI Jenn,
ReplyDeleteI thought about doing the email thing, but saw a comment from a family member saying that they did not want late cards, or email cards. I felt even worse about not sending them, but sometimes there is just not an option.
Your husband sounds just like mine! Ah - they let these little social activities slide without a backward glance, but it will haunt me every time I go to the mailbox!
I hope you have Merry Christmas!