Christmas Gift Etiquette

[DefyingGravitea]

AIBU? We spent Xmas with my in laws this year but sent my brothers children their gifts in the post. I know they’ve received them. But haven’t received a single text or call to say thank you! I’m petty enough to bring it up but want some reassurance I’m not being sensitive and not saying thank you is rude! (Gifts were over £50 each!)

where have manners gone!

I think it's early. A lot of people address Thank Yous in new year. Also, a lot of people are currently unwell. Hopefully you'll hear soon.

What age are the kids? Mine are young and open their presents over several days because once you factor in all the people who buy for them it’s just too much for them to do it in one day.
If this is a once off I wouldn’t go all guns blazing just yet.

I get my children to make thank you cards. This happens towards the end of the holidays as the festive activities end so we haven't done all of ours yet. I do this as I think it's nicer than a parent texting thanks.

A txt or a thak you card shoud r the least you should expect.

It would take two minutes to send a 'thank you' text. Unless there's been a genuine emergency, there should have been time to thank you. It could be that an actual letter is on its way to you, I suppose - let's hope so.

It's too early. I would allow another week.

I know some people send letters, but the majority would message. I text everyone on Christmas Day usually, one exception for one friend who phoned boxing day morning to thank me for her gift. When mine were little I’d send a photo of them holding it. Doesn’t take much time to send a quick thank you. It can always be followed up with a letter too.

My child is writing one thank you a day

The kids are 10 and 12 so perhaps too old for making me a card??

I was petty and asked and he said they received them but had got so many from so many people so didn’t send thank yous?!?!

Lazy

Oh well they won't miss them next year then will they

That is so rude. Your brother should have sent a quick thank you message as soon as the gifts were received and also got the children to thank you as well. I wouldn't be sending gifts again!

In my day, as soon as one had learned to write, the done thing was to sit down and pen a proper letter, including courteous enquiries after Auntie Maureen's health, a cheerful overview of one's own Christmas doings, and, of course, enthusiastic thanks for the gift.

If 10 and 12 year olds can't sign their name to a 'thanks' card and address an envelope, it's a poor show.

How rude. I wouldn’t bother in future.

Don't bother next year - spectacularly rude.

DD usually get a present from a family friend. I always send a thank you txt after DD opened a present.

I am extremely extremely annoyed at their rudeness!! It wasn’t even a “oh gosh so sorry not to message” it was more of a “yeah they got so many so we didn’t send individual thank you’d but they’re happy with the gifts.”

it’s my nieces birthday in a few weeks and feel guilty not giving her anything but I feel I shouldn’t given this rude behaviour!

My son is 10 and is making thank you cards. When they get too old to make a card, then I would expect them to write a thank you note like I did as a child. This is definitely a lost skill.

Well that's just rude!

This is so lovely. My DD and DS are too little at the moment (tiny babies!) but in the future I’ll be doing the same.

It’s a skill I shall deffo teach my DC.

My sister’s family: no acknowledgement that parcels were received, no thank you (of any kind) for the gifts. Multiple children, birthdays and christmas gifts were easily $500+ per year.

My brother’s family: a text that parcel had arrived, a thank you of some sort (text, photo, video, call, etc) when the gift opened.

Guess which family no longer receives gifts from me?

My dyslexic boys would rather have never received gifts than to be made to write thank you letters so I made sure they phoned to say thanks instead. I don’t think the method matters but it is basic manners to say thanks for a gift. Ironically I fell out with my SIL big time as I once sent a very expensive gift for her DD’s birthday which didn’t arrive. I thought she was rude for not saying thanks, she thought I was horrible for forgetting a birthday. We live on the opposites of the world so rarely see each ofher. By the time we worked it out so much time had passed we were never close again which was sad.

Slack parents , they are to blame . Totally rude . I wouldn’t send them any more.