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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
OuchLegoHurts · 15/12/2017 16:52

Hate the photo ones...pure tack

MirriVan · 15/12/2017 16:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GinIsIn · 15/12/2017 16:56

I’m not anti-child, I have one. I just have no interest in using other people’s to decorate my living room. Equally I would never expect anyone apart from very immediate family to want to display photos of my DS.

butteredbarmbrack · 15/12/2017 17:05

Like others, we do a photo inside Christmas cards. Not for neighbours, teachers etc but for family and friends we don't see often. We usually do a collage of 6-8 pictures from the year. I'm not so keen on the photo cards I must say, but any photos from friends and family are added to the fridge collection.

Flaky · 15/12/2017 17:09

Used to do one for family members when DC younger as they rarely saw them and Christmas is for kids. I found out much later that caused a bit of consternation because I thought of it firstHmm and I was showing my DC off apparentlyHmm but then I have a shit dysfunctional family! Wouldn't occur to me to send photo cards to non family members though.

CruCru · 15/12/2017 17:10

This is quite a weird thread. The references to "smug social climbers" makes me think that we're all living in a Jane Austin novel.

Not all Christmas cards will be to your taste. However, the sender has gone to the trouble to write out a card and post it to you. Not everyone does.

PodgeBod · 15/12/2017 17:20

I like them. Much more interesting to me then a glittery snowflake from Tesco.
I wouldn't want to be friends with someone who is repulsed by children, so it wouldn't be a problem for me if it put them off.

grannytomine · 15/12/2017 18:25

Is there a trend for very colourless cards this year? I have about 20 cards so far, one red, one green and the others are various shades of grey or beige. I've never seen such a dull collection, although the messages make up for it.

steppedonlego · 15/12/2017 18:29

I’d love one of my nieces/nephews/godchildren/children of close friends. I’d be a bit Hmm If say, a colleague who I didn’t socialise outside of work with gave me one.

Although I don’t do them myself, my rule of thumb is that I would only give them/ expect to receive them from people whom I would have a picture of their children on display anyway.

genever · 15/12/2017 18:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

honeyroar · 15/12/2017 18:47

I like a photo, but prefer them to be a genuine winter photo, not a "family lined up in Xmas jumpers" photo.

At the end of the day it's the sentiment and thought in getting them that counts. You're not going to like every card you get even if they're not photo cards!

And yes there are some judgey folk on Mumsnet. They get a kick out of criticising others and like to feel part of the clique. Same types you see judging others at the school gates. Best ignored!

TheBadgersMadeMeDoIt · 16/12/2017 00:10

I like them, especially the ones I get from my nephews. I don't get to see enough of them so the photo card always makes me smile.

I only send photo cards to grandparents, aunts and DD's former childminder, who likes to hear how she's getting on.

Blondeshavemorefun · 16/12/2017 09:42

In the end tho whatever is in the card they 99% all end in the bin /recycling week later 😂😂

spiney · 16/12/2017 10:58

Fancy even thinking that someone who is not directly related might want a happy pic of your child? On bloody MN it's smug, vain, show off, 'social climbing, super cringe, straight in the bin, 🙄🤔😂

Are people only interested in their own kids? Dear God.

I'm very interested in many kids apart from my own and long may it continue FFS. It takes a village to raise a child. I still have a pic on our picture board of my neighbours kids by their Christmas Tree looking, so happy. Pure joy.

What bloody joy suckers on here.

agentdaisy · 16/12/2017 11:10

I think they're nice to get from family and friends who you don't get chance to see much. But then I grew up 600 miles from my closest family and now I have family and friends as close as two minutes walk to an 18 hour plane journey. I like seeing how my friend's and cousin's children have changed since last year/last time we saw them.

I chuck most cards but keep the photo ones and ones my dcs have made.

SugarPlumFerry · 16/12/2017 11:18

To the people who don't like them because they aren't interested in other peoples' children: Are you really that fanatical about fat robins and snow scenes either?

To be honest I'd rather have a nice picture of some family children than ANOTHER SODDING PUG IN A CHRISTMAS HAT Xmas Angry

DontCallMeCharlotte · 16/12/2017 12:08

@blueyacht

What about a shit drawing your boss's wife has done?!

RavenWings · 16/12/2017 12:15

To think that I shouldn't send loved ones a photo of my boy because he isn't "cute enough" is really upsetting. I know his cerebral palsy makes him less... traditionally photogenic but I'd like to think people who supposedly love us could see past that

It's not about your specific child - no one on here has said anything like "God I hate it when Sunday puts a picture of her son on a card and sends one off to me". Some people just don't like photo cards, there's nothing wrong with that and it doesn't mean they like people with cerebral palsy any less.

EvaBlu · 16/12/2017 12:18

LOve em. Much better than generic Christmas scene on front of the card.

Love ones drawn by kids too.

In fact can’t think of any type of card I’d judge. I would however judge anyone who thinks there are etiquette rules around which cards are tasteless and which aren’t. Just be bloody glad people are thinking of you and sending you love at Christmas.

MimsyBorogroves · 16/12/2017 12:20

Really don't like them. If I wouldn't have a pic of their kids up usually, I don't need one at Christmas.

That said, I've said (through gritted teeth) that we will give school photos to my parents this year as a present. I don't like that either, it seems a bit...self absorbed. "Here's a present. It's a picture of my child" but my parents will no doubt like having them, so there you go.

TheBadgersMadeMeDoIt · 16/12/2017 19:05

"Here's a present. It's a picture of my child" but my parents will no doubt like having them, so there you go.

I know what you mean. When DD was born, MIL told us all she wanted for Christmas was an album full of pictures of her granddaughter. So we got a photo book done for her, and for FIL (they're divorced) and for my DP's too. Then it became an annual thing but it's such a faff sorting out the photos and arranging them nicely for printing. So this year (DD is now 6) I hinted to DM that I might stop doing the "baby books" now. She looked at me like I might as well cancel Christmas.

grannytomine · 16/12/2017 19:18

If I wouldn't have a pic of their kids up usually, I don't need one at Christmas. I don't normally have pictures of angels, penguins, father christmas or wise men but I've got them all up at the moment. I don't actually need them but people have gone to the trouble of buying them, writing nice messages and posting them so it is nice to have them.

ProzacAndWinePlease · 16/12/2017 19:37

I don't have strong feelings either way. I have one old friend who lives far away and doesn't do SM (we talk on the phone and write actual old-fashioned letters), so her Christmas cards are the only pics of her DC I really see, and those I kind of like.

LaPampa · 16/12/2017 20:00

We do photo ones for grandparents, godparents and other close family. Generic ones for everyone else. I like receiving photos and letters with updates at Christmas.

Rainbunny · 16/12/2017 23:07

I'm with your DH OP - I do think they are a bit showy. There's just a hint of narcissism about sending what amounts to unsolicited photos of your family in staged smug poses. I'm old school though, I love getting cards with wintery/Christmassy scenes and cards with a bit of glitter on them are the best!