To find this nauseatingly twee

[auserna]

A relative of mine has started signing all their cards something along the lines of, "All our love, now and always. We are so grateful that you are ours."

We are not an overly sentimental family. I don't recall either of my parents ever saying "I love you" to me, my siblings or each other.

AIBU to want to vomit a little at the turn of phrase or am I the most misanthropic curmudgeon out there?

That's sweet. Somehow sounds more natural and less overly-earnest.

My parents never told me or my siblings that they loved me either but I know they do. Think it’s a generational thing. I do tell
my children I love them but not all the time and they appreciate it when I do. Imo if it’s repeated constantly it loses its meaning but that’s probably just me. The card from the relative is a bit ott but they are probably going through something and appreciate you.

Oh I don't get it in my cards. I think she knows what my reaction would be! (I meant all the cards she writes to other people - at least the ones I happen to see).

People didn’t, in general, when I was growing up. I was born in 1967. I just don’t think it was the done thing. Though I never doubted for a second that mom and dad loved me unconditionally.

I say it to my grown up DDs all the time. They say it to me. Different times.

I was about to say the same thing, though born in the mid-50s.

Agree. My parents and myself with my children rarely say I Love You but I always new my parents actions and mine to my children are / were obvious that we love our children.

I don’t think it’s sad. My parents never say it to me but I know instinctively that they do and that they would do anything for me. Whereas my dh and his family say “love you “ all the time and yet there are huge issues in his family. I think in some generations it’s not as common to say it. But sometimes actions speak louder than words.

My sister was born in 1966 and our mum told us she loved us all the time

These are cliches that some people like to use. Much as you might say 'lots of love' or 'take care'. They don't mean more than that IMO.

MIL used to sign cards to the DC and Me ... From Granny.
Then she started going flowery.
I think DH pointed it out.

I think it’s very sweet. You have my sympathy that your parents never said they love you, that’s awful.

I find ‘From our family to yours’ quite passive-aggressive!

I didn’t say it was definitive. I was saying my experience. Hope that’s ok.

I also said that my parents were loving and kind and I never doubted their love. I think that’s really important.

Totally agree that actions mean more than words.

My parents didn't say it on a day to day basis (I was born in the early 60s) but I knew they loved me unconditionally.
It just wasn't something you heard people say. I didn't say It yo my friends as a teenager/young adult but I would now. I always tell my adult children I love them.
It was the last thing my mum said to me and that was very special.

Apart from posting on social media?

Bit of a dramatic reaction imo

Ah come on it’s not even in your card so don’t really see the issue (maybe stop reading other people’s cards!) It sounds like maybe a parent to a child and in that case, if they’re genuinely loving and it’s not empty words, I think it’s quite sweet.

Out of interest do you ever keep your cards OP? I do if someone’s taken the time to write a nice message and not everyone finds it easy to express their love in person (even if they show it) so writing it down is a way to share how they really feel.

Rolling my eyes is a dramatic reaction or posting on social media? Either way, I'd hardly say dramatic.

Luckily I come from a family who would send stupid cards, not sentimental ones so I hear you OP! The possessiveness is a tad weird too.

Partners family were the same. My late FIL sent his son a card, just like you mention, full of twee, rhyming sentimental crap which took my other half by surprise upon first glance..
He signed it 'Dear son, have a great birthday bollock chops, love Dad' to undo the twee. I presume was the only card he could find. We mentioned at his funeral as was so like my FIL. a good ol' East Londoner. 😁

Do they also post family selfies on social media at Christmas time in matching pyjamas with the caption 'merry Christmas from our family to yours' 🤮

My parents never said it either. Became a bit of a joke between my brothers and I when we visited as much older adults - told them we loved them as leaving, just to stand back and watch them fluster. Ha.

My god do you really have time to find issue with something so insignificant?

So weird and definitely twee!

But it doesn't have to be either/or! To say I love you is not by definition to be overly sentimental. And loving words, honestly meant, deeply felt (and yeah ideally not in Hallmarkspeak because I am a language snob) are rather wonderful things.

I understand this. I feel annoyed when I see my mother post photos of us on social media wishing us a happy birthday and using phrases like 'love you to the moon and back', when she has never told us she loves us in person, and in fact used to tell us on a regular basis that she hates us and wishes we were never born. I think this new thing of hers is to keep up appearances.