To put photos in Christmas cards.

[Nicae]

I put a photo of my 2 children (1 and 3 years old if it matters) in most of the Christmas cards I sent. Not to neighbours or work colleagues but to friends and family members, many of who live quite far away and we don't see regularly. I'm not on Facebook or any other social media (Luddite) so it's the only way they see what they look like! I don't expect these pictures to be put in frames or treasured but I just think people might like to see them. I like seeing photos of other people's kids and generally stick them on the fridge! My sister takes the mick mercilessly (semi-good natured but she means it!) and says she hates getting lots of photos this time of year and never knows what to do with them. (She has plenty of pictures of her nieces and is a fantastic Auntie - she mean those she gets from her friends). What's the general opinion please? Should I not bother next year?!

Have you asked her why she doesn't like it?
Perhaps she things it's infra dig?

I think it's lovely OP!

Nice to have something personal, far better than just 'from Kate and Steve'.

I like it, it's nice to see your friends' kids growing up even if you never see them in person

We received a card with a photo of my friend's 3 and 1 year old in it, and I loved it. The photo is propped on the mantle piece right now.

It's nice to see the kids (who we see infrequently) and it's touching that the friend thought we were worthy of the photo!

NB: they could be your kids... meep!

I think it’s nice!

I do this every year for my family and ex's family (Ds's dad) don't stop doing it

Hmm not sure what I’d do with a pic if my friend’s kids? 🤔 don’t think I’d want one. Older or childless people might like it.
Otherwise it’s called digital communication. Get with it.

AnonEvent - if it is my kids, I'm glad they're on your mantle piece!

Jubejube1 - I don't mind what you do with the picture, have a look and then throw it away, I'm not a bit precious about it!

I love getting pictures in the post. Had a friend abroad and every Christmas she posted me pictures of her dcs. Loved getting them. Really adds to card. I stick up on the fridge for a while. Have loads of pictures there. Keep doing it.

I think it's lovely. I like to see my friends / relations dc growing up, even if I can't see them often in reality. Then a photo is particularly nice to see.

I only do it for family and only really for grandparents and one particular auntie who is v fond of DS.

If we've seen them during the year I include any pictures I have of them/us together :)

I think it's nice but I wouldn't do it for friends normally - but I do use FB for pictures of DS which friends can obviously see.

I love getting pics of my friends/family’s kids. You should bother, it’s lovely.

I have two minds on this.
I love getting (small) photos of my friends' children and seeing how they grow up. I've several on the fridge.
I don't send any myself to anyone because the thought makes me cringe.

See if you can work that one out!

For grandparents yes, a picture of the children in silly outfits they can keep is cute. Everyone else getting a photo is a little weird.

I receive these and if I'm honest I don't like it. Feels Funny to throw them away because it feels wrong some how but wish I didn't have them hanging around.
I'm not that interested in other people's children though.

Ugh. Sounds like something they would do in America.

I like feeling important enough for someone to send me photos of their children. It’s genuinely a nice thing I think.

For non FB family and friends its a basic courtesy IMHO

Photobox used to do stickers, slightly bigger than postage stamp. I would dress the twins up reindeer headbands and take a smiley photo. I sent those for a few years. It felt less twee than an actual photo and it's easy to go in the recycling bin as it's attached to the card.

I have a friend who asks of I want a school photo of her child, ehhhh NO. And she was most offended when I didn't want a copy of her 'precious' in the natavity play - he wasn't even one of the leads. When I told her, it's like wedding videos, it's only if interest to very immediate family, she blanked me for weeks.

What is Luddite ???
I think It’s nice. Ignore your dsis. If she didn’t like chocolate should you agree with her??

Older or childless people might like it.

Why would a childless person enjoy photos of your kids any more than someone with their own children?

If they're involuntarily childless, rather than child free by choice, it can be bittersweet - yes of course you're happy for your friends and like to share in their happiness, but it's also a very blatant reminder of the family they may so very much want but may be unable to have

I say that as someone who is very much childless not by choice. Christmas can be very very difficult when you're infertile - I don't expect anyone to tiptoe around me just because I'm barren, but I would simply offer a counterpoint that someone who is childless might very much NOT enjoy receiving pictures of your kids. It can feel like you're having it rubbed in your face - 'here's what we have that you can't have'

It's interesting you say that, the only couple I debated putting the photo in was for a very close friend, who I haven't seen for a while and I know is having difficulty conceiving. Can't remember what I decided now.