To expect a 'sister' card for Xmas from my brother

[mightyducks]

His card arrived today in the post, just a bog standard one out of a box of cards. I always get him and his wife a 'to my brother and his wife' card every year. He used to but the last two years it's been a box one. AIBU?

YABU, especially as you can't get charity cards with the relationships spelled out in them, and I hate the thought of wasting such a lot of money on something that will be binned when no-one will get anything out of it. Don't you write out a message to the recipient in them? How on earth do you send a card to your neighbours if you don't know their names? Do you write in it "to whom it may concern, Merry Christmas?"

OP did you really expect any one wouldn't think this was a ridiculous thing to fret about?

You should come and be in my family. Here it's almost a competition to get the most specific card possible. DH thinks it's ridiculous. He's right of course, but every family has its foibles!

Do they make "Brother in law and Wife cards"?

What if Wife is American?

Or, even, Massachusetts Or even Massocheichei ????

Will the card say "Brother in law and wife from Massocheichei" ?

Will they be insulted if the card is bog standard from a box?

Actually, this is the you want....

I think not getting any cards would be sad. For many of my old college and work friends it's the only time we update each other on our lives. My relatives are scattered round the UK so we send each other cards. My husband writes cards to his friends and family. I think the waste of paper is fairly trivial compared to newspapers etc.
I don't want my card personalised with a "to my sister" on it but do like it when people write a personalised message and update inside and some send photos. That is much more personal.
Seeing cards scattered on the surfaces makes me feel appreciated. ecards aren't quite the same.

YABU in general about needing a 'special' card and about those relation cards in particular. I find them really naff.

I went to a house recently where they'd just had a birthday - I saw Dad, brother, cousin, uncle, nephew, grandson and husband ranged about the walls; possibly godfather too. I was a bit at the range available and the variety of relations he still had living (given the age of his wife, I'd say he was 50s/60s).

Tikka, you can also get cards (Mother's and Father's day at least, although I'm not sure about Christmas) from the cat/dog.

Now that really IS taking sadness to a whole new level.

Whoops that should have been a face, lol! Although the sad face could still stand to emphasise the pathetic'ness I know that's not a real word of your card sending

mightyducks YANB

This pops up in some form every year. I generally stay well clear, but in a show of solidarity I will stand up and be counted as one of the twats/chavs/twees/idiots. I buy 'relationship' cards, all my family & friends do and I would say by general MN standards we are not twatty/idiots/twees (PMSL at me being twee) or chavs - it's just tradition.

Someone has taken the time to choose a card for you - not just picked up the next one out of the box I think it's nice.

It's weird how on MN it's naff/chavy/twee

I'm with you OP & clearly not the majority!

I buy my brother a 'brother' card & 'uncle' card from my DSs every year & never once have I got a 'sister' or have my sons got a 'nephew' card back.

Really don't know why I bother!

I think it's an awful waste of money. It looks thoughtful, but it isn't really is it? It's not bought with our taste or interests in mind, just several quid to describe our relationship with some glitter.

awasting I put a lot of thought into chosing the right card for everyone, I don't just pick up the first Mum, Brother, Aunty card I see Picking the next one out of a box takes no thought.

ffs

YABU

[trademark response]

But then, I am far too lazy for cards prefer to save the planet [smug]

I honestly couldn't give less of a shit whether or not I get a card from my siblings and whether or not it's a fancy one.

Most years I forget to get DH/my dad/everyone else any card at all.

sinister - you can send at least 3

Chipping, what would you do if none of them were quite right?

YABU - I bloody hate those twee cards with every possible permutation of relationship on them! DH's family love them Before we were married we would seriously get a 'To A Wonderful Son & His Girlfriend' card! His Nan used to be really miffed if the card wasn't spot on - no Gran, Granny, Grandma, not even To A Special Grandmother - it had to be Nan

Yes, it's totally chavvy. All that Clinton Cards shite is. They're the sort of cards that have poems in them:

You're a very special sister
So this card is just for you
Wishing you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year too

There's a bottle of Lambrini
All for you, under my tree
and a pack of orange fruit shoots
for lil' Tyler and Kacey-Marie

luv u hun n ur gawjus bubz 2 xxx

awasting - I look in another shop and keep looking until I find one I like

I just love how this is open season

awasting ^^ wasn't aimed at you, totally separate thought!

My FIL always sends us 'personalised' cards. Except they aren't. I am sure they spend time choosing them, but from our end it is a mass produced card with a mass produced little poem and has nothing from them apart from our names and their names. dd even noticed that she had got the same birthday card two years in a row (I am sure they were chosen specifically for the occasion though)

My mum sends postcards which she has collected over time and are rarely occasion suitable, but they come with a loving message from her. I really couldn't care less that they come from a huge heap of postcards, I do care that it's her own words on them.

If you always send a mum/gran/sister and never get one in return it's quite likely that the recipient isn't snubbing you but that they actually don't like that type of card. Just because a Christmas card comes in a box doesn't mean it wasn't chosen with care (although if it was as cheap as chips that's probably less likely!)