To expect family members to take the time to write my childrens names in a Christmas card.

[AlwaysWashing]

We have received two cards this morning from close family members. One was to "Always Washing, Mr Always Washing. & the boys" the other to "Always Washing, Mr Always Washing & family". They were not from elderly, potentially forgetful people or from rels that don't see my children?
My children have names AIBU to expect them to be used?

I generally can't be arsed to write all my own (5) dc names on a card so don't expect anyone else to.

Not an issue to me. Christmas cards are the main chore of the run up to Christmas, and I freely admit that I just trot them out in the easiest way possible. I am not relishing the task of sitting down to write about 40 (or is it 50) of the blighters over the next few days.

Can you tell I am rather a Christmas humbug when it comes to cards?

I feel your pain Topseyt. I have dispensed with the letters this year beacause I CBA.

We have had three cards this year so far, two with letters. One full of doom and gloom (health problems) and one with "look how many holidays we have had this year", so I have just put love from bunbaker, Mr bunbaker and bunbaker DD in my cards and that will have to suffice.

I do the same, Bunbaker. In fact, I only have one card I usually write an additional note in. That is to a particularly special friend.

If I could, I would stop sending Christmas cards at all. I don't know anyone who actually enjoys writing them, but we all just plough through it and get it all done as quickly as possible. Box ticked.

YABU and massively oversensitive.

We don't send cards anymore, but when we didn't we couldn't be bothered to write the kids' names in!

Most of my family spell OH's name wrong (granted it is foreign but it only has 5 letters FGS) so I wish they would just write 'Happy Christmas' instead

I might spell everyones name wrong in their cards this year in protest

krabby thats odd

Every time DH writes our names in a card, he deliberately mis-spells mine and writes it in wonky back-to-front toddler writing. He finds this hilarious. I really wonder if anyone else does

I'm a complete grinch - the only reason I do christmas cards to people I'm going to see over the holidays is because they get mardy if I don't. I like a quiet life and just can't be bothered to argue over a card.

However, if I sent the blasted thing and then still got berated for not putting enough 'effort' in, I would be pissed. I don't want to do it, I don't want people doing it for me, I'm doing it because it's something they want/expect/enjoy.

Token effort is enough effort. It might not be to the highest standard but then not everyone is the same and we put importance on very different things in life.

Cards for some people is not one of those things, it's just something they feel they have to do. So just be pleased that you were thought about and made the effort for.

I am a complete Scrooge about cards and am trying to cut down on the number I send - if people have loads to write maybe the time taken to write out multiple names on potentially dozens or even more cards just makes it too much to bother?

Sometimes I don't even write the names on the card, just sign it and names on envelope.