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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Christmas card from neighbour..

231 replies

NewandBlue · 10/12/2025 06:55

Ive received a card from our neighbours two door down and it states all,the family’s name. To NewandBlue and husband from Pam, Pete, then also has their two adult children names on with their partners and kids names?

As it’s only Pam and Pete that are our neighbours I can’t see the point in putting all the families names on the card. Am I unreasonable?

OP posts:
Apricotafternoon · 10/12/2025 07:47

It's a Christmas card - why do you care so much to post on here? Haven't you got much else to think about?

Cardomomle · 10/12/2025 07:49

"waste of ink"
😂
Merry Christmas to you too! 🥳

NancyMitfordsLeftGlove · 10/12/2025 07:50

What a thing to start a mumsnet thread about.

TY78910 · 10/12/2025 07:51

MerryGuide · 10/12/2025 06:56

They'll be writing on autopilot, accept the nice gesture

This.
I write the same message in a bunch of cards, once they’re done, I then put them in envelopes and write the names / addresses on the envelopes. None of them are bespoke.

InterestedDad37 · 10/12/2025 07:51

NewandBlue · 10/12/2025 07:02

No, not new to the street. There are a lot of neighbours and their children’s and partners names (and their little ones names) so quite long to write!

It seems a bit pointless to me, also I don’t know their family.

My neighbours a few doors away sent one and included the names of their cats. I sent one to the neighbours, and one especially for the cats, 'allowing' them to show it to 'their humans' if they wanted to.
I don't really celebrate Christmas, but it seemed a nice/fun thing to do. The humans loved the gesture! (the cats didn't comment) 👍🐱

Didimum · 10/12/2025 07:51

A waste of ink? Come on, OP. What a silly post.

Happyjoe · 10/12/2025 07:51

Sorry, in the case of next door on my right, who are animal crazy, we even put pet names on the card. Am sure you'd love that OP!

EINSEINSNULL · 10/12/2025 07:52

Does it really matter?

StephensLass1977 · 10/12/2025 07:54

Good God. Just write "to all at number 55, have a great Christmas, love from Mr and Mrs New&Blue". Why are you reading so much into this?

bugalugs45 · 10/12/2025 07:55

Jesus Christ, first world problems right there 🤣

ToffeePennie · 10/12/2025 07:55

I did something similar a few years ago. Was really poorly with laryngitis and a throat access. My family would not drop the whole “We need your Christmas cards to give out to family and friends, your siblings have already done theirs, you look like an appalling person” typical crap they always pull. I wrote them on autopilot, using the previous years Christmas planning book to write the names. Totally forgot several people had separated, one had had a baby and another one had died.
Only one person took offence; everyone else thought it was nice they got a card, considering I was hospitalised a week later.

Cardomomle · 10/12/2025 07:57

Happyjoe · 10/12/2025 07:51

Sorry, in the case of next door on my right, who are animal crazy, we even put pet names on the card. Am sure you'd love that OP!

I think that's cute!

ForZanyAquaViewer · 10/12/2025 08:04

JudgeBread · 10/12/2025 07:23

This is such a stupid post. Sometimes when you have a thought, just keep it in your head, this is one of those things that absolutely doesn't need a group consensus.

This.

Runrunrudolph · 10/12/2025 08:06

Honestly OP your post is symbolic of why I find Christmas so hypocritical and nonsensical.
It's supposed to be a time of goodwill to all but here you are being critical and unpleasant because your neighbours put the names of people you don't know on a Christmas card.
Absolutely depressing.

Shelby2010 · 10/12/2025 08:06

I thought it was so you’d do the same and they could stop feeling embarrassed that they still don’t know the names of your husband or kids.

Yamahahaha · 10/12/2025 08:10

youalright · 10/12/2025 06:58

Seriously I think the word you're looking for is thankyou

Thank you is two words.

Jane143 · 10/12/2025 08:18

Lucky you don’t get cards from me, I always put the dogs and cats names too!

ViaRia01 · 10/12/2025 08:19

The sheer cheek of them!!

Jane143 · 10/12/2025 08:20

ViaRia01 · 10/12/2025 08:19

The sheer cheek of them!!

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

graceinspace999 · 10/12/2025 08:23

Quietly move house…

dontmalbeconme · 10/12/2025 08:23

What a bizzare thing to give headspace to.

BadgernTheGarden · 10/12/2025 08:24

SparklyGlitterballs · 10/12/2025 07:04

I think it's a bit of a minefield once circumstances change. Me and my NDN both have young adult children, hers slightly older than mine. Every year we'd send each other a card with the four names on it. This year her son has moved out and got married. They're not white British heritage and I don't even know their surname, let alone the son's wife's name. Now it's time to send them a card and I'm not sure what to write. It feels weird somehow to leave the son off, as I've always included him, but at the same time it would be weird to write his name and not acknowledge the wife. Do I put all their names and then after the son put 'and wife'? That seems even more odd. They haven't sent me their card yet so I'm unsure what they'll write.

I agree though, odd for them to include the whole family and their children if they don't even live there. I think once the kids move out they should be responsible for their own cards and dropped from the NDN card.

'And family' is a good compromise when things change as children leave home, get married and eventually have their own children.

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 10/12/2025 08:31

My aunt does this with her grown daughters' boyfriends... she has 3 daughters and the boyfriends names have changed so many times over the years I just smile every time...

love Dave, Linda, Claire & Jim, Phill, Tony, Judith & Nigel, Ben, Simon, Clive, Becky & Frank, Steve, Brian, Chris, Kevin, Alister, Tomas, Darren .

obvs she doesn't write the exes but that's how I read it every year... you go girls 😂

Theroadt · 10/12/2025 08:37

Gosh I include my (school age) kids and dog! Equally, we get cards “from No 66”. It doesn’t bother me as it’s just a nice gesture. I think you’re being a wee but nitpicky and patronising, actually. Life’s much happier for all if lived with a generous spirit.

ParmaVioletTea · 10/12/2025 08:44

Burnnoticed · 10/12/2025 06:56

They did a nice thing. You are being ridiculous.

First response nails it.

YABU