To think sending postcards is a massive chore?

[WhatsMyDream]

Whenever we go on holiday, family member says to my DC (in my hearing) "make sure to send me a postcard"
I have come to find that sending a postcard generally involves 4 steps, all of which are a chore

1. find the postcard
2. write it
3. find a stamp - usually never sold by the postcard shop
4. find the postbox

All of these tasks to be achieved whilst wrangling DC abroad in unfamiliar areas while they all want to do something different to each other and me. Family member is a single traveller for whom postcard sourcing is probably a nice way to spend an afternoon pottering. For me holidays are a combination of DC : complaining about the weather, wanting an ice cream, needing the toilet, wanting to buy X random cheap toy, being hungry, being thirsty, not wanting to visit whatever thing the country is famous for, wanting to go back to the pool etc

Throwing a postcard obstacle course into the mix is just a step too far

These postcard apps are amazing! Thank you for the recommendations

OP sounds like the type of SAHM who breaks down every chore she has into drawn out multistep processes and does everything far more than is necessary to prove that she's just as busy as people who work outside the home.

We've just come back from Mallorca and there were several shops in the coastal town we stayed in that had huge racks of post cards, along with all the other usual holiday supplies like water toys, sun cream etc. So there must be a market for them. They probably sold stamps too and if they didn't they could have said where to get them, or it's easy to Google - where to buy a stamp in X country.

Post boxes not hard to find either and usually quite prominent - in Spain they're bright yellow. But with a smart phone, none of this is difficult or time consuming.

we also went to Mallorca this year and sent postcards. We practiced asking ‘where can i buy a stamp’ in Spanish. Then ‘where is the post box?’ And looking up what postbox to use. No drama. Just learning and experiencing a bit more of another country beyond the pool. We loved Mallorca as everywhere I got the children to practice a bit of Spanish, supermarket / cafes / shops, the people were incredibly accommodating.

Or, they felt obliged to keep them as that was the practice of the time.

And now the practice of the time is to share photos electronically.

They’re fab! Totally stress free, you can use your own pics and the rellies love them 😄. We use them for birthday thank yous now too 😊

Both sets of grandparents display their postcards from their grandchildren on their fridge/notice boards. Can’t do that with digital photos sent on WhatsApp 😊

I'm not the OP, but I don't, it is a chore and a waste of paper. I also wish people wouldn't send them to me!
OP, I don't blame you. Next time, just don't send this relative a postcard. Don't get into it with them, just don't do it.

Came here to recommend Postsnap, and see someone beat me to it. Really easy.

2 small nephews who love getting post. I try and take a pic of something they'll like and send it every few weeks. The hardest bit is trying to find interesting things to take a photo of.

Haven't sent a handwritten one in years. Changed to sending electronic ones that get printed off in the UK and posted. Now don't bother as can use WhatsApp.

Moonpig (other services are available) do exactly this: send a picture as a postcard. ‘S brilliant.

while my techno Phoebe mother was still alive, I’d send he one and she was always thrilled. Sigh.

My goodness, how did the human race ever survive before email?!

As others have said, just set up a family WhatsApp groups and post regular pictures, it's so much better than postcards. I think old people especially say "send a postcard" but don't actually really care that much, especially if they're getting regular updates of the family.

I remember my parents insisting that we sent postcards as young kids as if it was some sort of duty. It was tedious.

I haven't sent one for about 40 years.

If sending an electronic photo and message or giving them a card when you get back won't work, then get/send a postcard at the airport or just the first one you see on day one. Add a short and very general message about the wonderful/hideous weather. post it ASAP and then forget about it for the rest if the holiday.

I used to love sending postcards as a child, it was an essential part of the holiday. It was fun to see different countries stamps and wait to see whether the postcard would arrive before we got home.

@Hatty65
I meant to reply to this message previously. How unthinking of your DM. That's really upsetting . I hope things are better for you now.

@WhatsMyDream They are thanks! I'm now an old retired lady and could afford to go abroad (unencumbered by DC) if I wished to, but thank you.

have to say I rarely send postcards now
use the apps only

however my DF and older relatives loved to send and receive cards

after he died I have several large full Victorian postcard albums, full, complete with their writing. Some written so small so include their whole trip itinerary.

and DF not only sent many, but bought multiple copies to keep. I’ve had so much fun looking through postcards of places we went together, and going back now and seeing how much they have changed. He had so many copies, a lot went to primary schools for kids letter writing practice to send him to parents , who I’m sure were surprised to receive postcards from
their kids from places and countries that no longer exist

OP sounds like the type of SAHM who breaks down every chore she has into drawn out multistep processes and does everything far more than is necessary to prove that she's just as busy as people who work outside the home.

and gets incredibly angry and pissed off about it all

Don't send any then.

People say that about Christmas cards and yet you can find both everywhere.

It's actually tricky to find postcards at the seaside, it's not guaranteed,and definitely fewer places selling them.

I live in Brighton. They’re everywhere

I love a postcard, whenever we go away we also send one to our home to pop in a book so we can see where we went and when.

They're not everywhere in all seaside towns. It's great that Brighton has them 😊😊

So much angst over a ridiculously small thing. Send it or don't send it but it's hardly onerous. You can describe everything as a massively difficult process- "oh god I had to make a cup of tea today. Drag a cup out of the cupboard, rummage out a tea bag, lug the kettle over to the sink, wrestle the tap on, wait while the kettle fills, then faff around while it boils. Heave the boiled kettle up to pour it into the mug. Pile over to the fridge to hunt for milk... all the whole wrangling children". But is all a bit ridiculous.