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?

[trufflesnuffler]

I don't think those cards are all naff...you can get the odd nice one. My mum loves them and always sends them us a vice versa. Each to their own, it's nice to be acknowledged in anyway. I'd swap em for RL cuddles though!

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

I used to until about 5 years ago when I handed over about £25 for a small handful of family cards. A little voice in my head said WTF? and I haven't done them since.

[EugenesAxe]

Holla.... well, you have me guffawing really.

Just wanted to put in a word for non-personal card senders; I don't buy a box but packs of charity cards, and actually I do put it quite a bit of thought about which to choose. The decor of the recipient's house, whether they have young children, whether they would prefer sacred or secular. So contrary to how it may seem, I don't send with no thought.

[usualsuspect]

I thought Clintons was the MC equivalent of The Card Factory.


Where does one buy little Tarqins cards?

Do they have cards depicting scruffy long haired boys in tutus?

[Junebugjr]

Is it really worth getting wound up about it.

DH family are like this, if you don't get a Christmas card for them stating the exact relationship, and then another one from the kids with 'to my auntie' whatever on it, they sulk. They also want thank you notes for giving a bottle of wine you've already said thanks for when they gave it to you. I didn't even know thank you notes existed til I met DH family.

[PenguinsDontEatStollen]

Only one or two members of my family buy 'name' cards. We don't, for anyone. Nor do my parents or sibling.

I think it's an odd thing to get upset about to be honest.

[Jinsei]

I differentiate between cards for the neighbours and cards for close family. In that, I write cards for the neighbours but don't bother giving them to close family at all. I will speak to them to wish them a happy Christmas, so cards are not needed!

[mightyducks]

I expected to be called silly, petty etc, I didn't expect a complete character assassination of anyone who buys relationship cards. I've been called chavvy, crass, twee, a card Nazi and a fanatic plus something other horrible things that have had to be deleted by MN! I knew it was petty and just really wanted confirmation of that from this thread so I could forget about it. Thanks to those who came 'out' as other relationship card buyers in support.

[AlaskaNebraska]

Very very naff. And slightly council

[usualsuspect]

Some posters just try too hard...

[HaroldTheGoat]

Trying too hard is really common.

Poor love.

[BigBirthdayGloom]

Well, I like relations cards. If money were no object I'd buy them. In fact I had one for pretty much each member of our immediate family to give each other in my basket at John Lewis the other day. Had to put them back, with regret.

[Earlspearl]

Cards with happy Xmas brother/sister/aunt etc are just a commercial ploy to get more money out of shoppers. Surely a special message inside a standard card is nice? Also bit odd you send cards to people you don't know the names of

[scottishbelle78]

Yabu. Sister cards are yuk. Soppy and sentimental.

[oldgrandmama]

I am very upset because I didn't get a 'You are a lovely owner, Happy Christmas' card from my cat.

[motherinferior]

Cats are bastards that way. Not one of ours has bothered with a card of any kind. I am v upset, obviously.

[oldgrandmama]

Yes, motherinferior, AND I gave my bloody cat a special Christmas breakfast of Waitrose prawns this morning and last night her supper was cooked giblets from my Duchy Originals bronze aged turkey.

She's also got a lovely laser toy, a new bowl, sachet of pussy treats and several catnip mice all wrapped under the Christmas Tree - but not one sodding present from her to me. Talk about ungrateful. What's more, she won't grace us with her presence when my daughter, her DH and the grandbrats are here for Christmas Dinner, as she hates kids ... OK, I'll be honest, she hates EVERYONE except me and the cleaning lady (she likes Lithuanians, it seems) and everyone hates her - she's Pussy No-Mates.

Still, you'd think she could at least manage a card.

[MyMILisfromHELL]

YABU. Grow up FFS.

[zeeboo]

Bloody hilarious! I'm going to be chuckling about this all day. Thanks OP.

[SantasComingEarlyHisSackIsFull]

At least your cats don't pee on the Christmas presents under the tree, for the second Christmas running. We've only had him 15 months, the wee bastard.

[Caitlin17]

One of ours peed on the wrapped cat nip parcel. Possibly in frustration at not being able to get the paper off.

Not one of them gave us a card. I suppose there is the possibility of a headless mouse appearing later.

My son gave us a particularly cheesy card marked "to both of you" I'm not sure who it's aimed at. It features 2 teddy bears both wearing blue bow ties exchanging presents but is non specific as to the relationship between the donor, the donee and the teddies. It is possibly meant for a male gay couple for a sender who wants to acknowledge the relationship but not too overtly, in which case son has misjudged it entirely. I hope it is.

[MalibuAndMilkPleaseLibertine]

Seriously?? that's what's pissing you off enough to start a Fred? Okaaaaay, I don't get cards! From any fucker!

Do I give a rat's wank? Nope! If you have a good relationship, and know He loves you, really, who cares?

(Disclaimer, am half cut)

[NetworkGuy]

Clearly it has upset you a bit. Just curious but how old (20s, 30s, 40s are you?) Only ask because I have sent none of my sisters (3) a card, while each of them did send me a card (not 'brother' but a 'normal' card).

We're all over 50, and they are none of them apparently upset over not having had a card (one sister commented that most of her friends had explained environmental reasons, while for me it's plain economics).

I have loads of clients, one always sends me a desk diary, none have sent cards this year, and I've posted none at all. I did drop a few in to neighbours, and most have responded in the same way.

Obvious from many of the comments that people are generally not as sensitive about this as you. If your family normally select special cards, then just treat it as an oversight, pressure of work, or whatever and don't think badly of him... It's Christmas, after all!