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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Photo Christmas cards - do you like them?

131 replies

user1474652148 · 14/12/2017 15:14

A few of my friends send out pictures of their dc on the front of a xmas card. I love getting them but dh thinks they are abut showy. Why showy? It is too smiling toothy kids. Why would you not like them?

OP posts:
PunkrockerGirl59 · 14/12/2017 19:22

I'd far rather have a photo of your cats than one of other peoples' children Toddler. At least I'd get some enjoyment from it.

AlonsosLeftPinky · 14/12/2017 19:23

God no.

I'm not a fan of Xmas cards in general. But I can assure you that I don't care enough about your children to want them on a card sitting on my mantlepiece.

AlonsosLeftPinky · 14/12/2017 19:25

Oh and I tend to think that those who send them are the sort of people who can't see past their child's nose and think the entire world revolves around their precious darlings.

Toddlerteaplease · 14/12/2017 19:52

Punk, they get pictures of their own cats!

Herewegoagain01 · 14/12/2017 19:55

I find them tacky, and not hugely keen on displaying them. I don’t mind drawings etc, but not photos.

Goldfishshoals · 14/12/2017 20:04

Never done it, don't see the problem with it, but then I only send Christmas cards to people who actually like my family and kids...

LadyOfTheCanyon · 14/12/2017 20:18

God no.
To family I guess if you must, but why not put a photo in the card instead? The friends I have who do it are to a (wo)man smuggy social climbers. I have zero interest in your kid/dog wearing a 'zany' hat. That's what FB is for, which I can avoid.

Sandsnake · 14/12/2017 20:26

I wouldn't send one myself as I'd think it a bit cringy and that recipients would roll their eyes. But if I were to get one from someone else I actually think I'd quite like it! It's nice to see how others' children are changing, especially if you don't see them much.

PerkingFaintly · 14/12/2017 20:29

I love, love, love getting photos of my family's children, and their artwork cards. Not sure how I'd feel about it if I didn't know the children, though.

Honestly, if I were relying on Christmas cards for tasteful (to my mind) arty decor... well... I wouldn't be able to display two-thirds of what I'm sent.

If I want naice art I'll buy it myself and put it on the walls.

SeaToSki · 14/12/2017 20:35

I have sent photo cards since they invented them, but I do live in the US and its standard here. Also my UK rellies dont get to see the DC that much, so the christmas cards let them see how mich they have grown etc. I only send them to family and friends though.

Leeds2 · 14/12/2017 20:42

I don't like them at all (mind you, I don't send Christmas cards at all these days!). Only excuse in my book is if the child, or one of them, is under 12 months of age. Otherwise then yes, I do shudder!

StripySocks1 · 14/12/2017 20:45

I send them to family only, we don’t see them very often because we’re at opposite ends of the country. I know some people think they’re tacky but I just think to myself that if they don’t like it then they can put it straight in the bin! I like sending them and it makes me happy so why not.

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 14/12/2017 22:55

I have sent pictures of DD to relatives alongside a Christmas card. I have also received pictures in this way.

oliveinacampervan · 14/12/2017 23:30

Unless it's for the kids grandparents, then no.

No-one gives a shit about your kids except you and your partner, and the grand parents. And no-one wants a photo of them!

JaceLancs · 15/12/2017 00:43

I had a very cringy photo card from a couple recently of them being lovey dovey - no kids
Was tempted to send a cat one in return but didnt

InionEile · 15/12/2017 00:50

This is the norm here in the US. Everyone sends out personalized cards with photos of their family on the front. I like to get them and see how friends' kids are doing but feel self-conscious doing it myself, as if I'm being showy. I have done it sometimes to send cards to friends here within the USA but for sending cards home, I always use generic shop-bought cards with a Christmas message, no photo.

yrhengi · 15/12/2017 04:17

maybe for close friends and family, but otherwise it does feel a bit like suggesting the baby Jesus and the sender's adorable moppets are seasonally interchangeable.

BradleyPooper · 15/12/2017 04:21

As Inion says its the norm here in the USA, it's normal to do a holiday photo shoot of your kids in November so that you can get your cards printed in time. It's so weird seeing other peoples kids on my mantlepiece among the usual snow scene Xmas cards. I find it pretentious. I send photos of my kids to grandparents etc inside cards but would not put them on a card....

lalalemon · 15/12/2017 04:38

We do homemade by the toddler Christmas cards (this year she did stamping with Christmas biscuit cutters) and I put a photo of her inside! We have a lot of family who live along way from us don't see her regularly and are also old and not on facebook! I'm sure they love it as she's obviously the most beautiful child on the planet! 😜

mogulfield · 15/12/2017 04:43

I don’t mind them, everyone on my Christmas card list is family, or I consider a good friend. I love my friends, and love seeing their kids/how they’re getting on.

WilyMinx · 15/12/2017 04:45

People I know and care about: like them
Local MPs, company spokespersons, celebrities, other random people.: nope

Aragog · 15/12/2017 08:19

No-one gives a shit about your kids except you and your partner, and the grand parents.

Really?! How sad. I care deeply about many of the children I know - my nieces and nephew, my godson, close family friend's children. They are all important people to me and people who I care and love.

Do some people really only care about their own immediate family?! This thread certainly makes it seem that way.

As said before, no one has to display ANY card they get. Why not just read the card, and put it to one side of you don't like the image in the front? Why the angst and unpleasantness? I do think sometimes it's just seen as the 'cool' thing to say/do - this constant pulling down of other people's choices.

LilithTheKitty · 15/12/2017 08:30

I like them. I enjoy having photos of my friends and family. Why wouldn't you? I'm not organised enough to send them myself though Grin

GinIsIn · 15/12/2017 08:36

I don’t like them personally and if I’m sent one I don’t usually display it as I don’t see the point of having a photo of random children in my living room.

We have DS now, and it still wouldn’t cross my mind to send photos of him to everyone on my list.

CruCru · 15/12/2017 08:45

I’ve done this in the past (I now send out the cards that the children designed, which are sold by the school). I got the idea from American friends, who all seem to do this.

It may not be tasteful but Christmas very rarely is.