Has this been asked before?

[ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas]

What do you think of family newsletters included with Christmas cards. Are they naff or not?

Nothing wrong with friendliness Rudolph, only one upmanship masquerading as friendliness (I know a lot about that having gone to a v competitive all girls boarding school!)
I admit that I like 'em, if only to have a laugh-family's best ever was from a stiff upper lip sort of chap who mentioned that the last year had been 'rather difficult' for his older son when we all knew that he was a thieving alcoholic with a serious drugs problem who couldn't keep down a job and had got some poor young girl pregnant.
Oh how we chortled!!

snort!

Pre-children, My DH and his brothers, and even D-MIL have scoffed and had a chortle at the one family newsletter that goes around from his aunt and uncle, because they are month by month yawn-a-thons and we have always sworn we would never do one.

And yet now, with two children and a more interesting year than "got up went to work x400, plus occasional drunken evenings out" I find myself more drawn to writing a little newsletter of our own with pics and such and such. I cannot even believe I am thinking about it!!!

Although if I did, I would probably re-write it in a very sarcastic way to BIL's to make them laugh, and know that if I sent to my close family only, they would LOVE it indeed! Apart from my middle sister who would probably crap herself laughing at the very thought!

Well, I have to confess I started this thread because I had just finished my newsletter. I know they are naff and I know if you don't have contact with people throughout the year, they porbably don't want to hear about your family, but I send one anyway (apart from last year when I couldn't be bothered.) I like receiving them and reading ones sent to my mum, even when I don't know the people! I hope mine aren't too boastful. I try to just write about events as they happened and I am a good writer and get lots of compliments about my style, so I presume some people are being genuine and enjoy reading my letters.

TBH, I hate getting cards with no message in at all, and I loathe most of all cards that do not have my name in. I also don't much like receiving photos of other people's children because I don't want to keep them and I feel guilty about throwing them away when I feel the person who sent it thought it was wonderful. Until last year, I put printed photos onto my newsletter, but I am not even dong that this year.

Perhaps I should copy some of my letter here for MNers' approval/ comments?

Dream on!

Oooh yes, go on Lonely Mum! Lets have a nose!

I love 'em ! But I don't send them because they would say:

"My days revolve around clearing up, cooking, wiping up shit, removing Rice Crispies from the carpet, and pondering on the advantages of different types of footwear for toddlers.

This year DD has turned two and now has quite impressive bladder and bowel control. We have ruined most of our carpets and can't afford to have them replaced.

DD's diet consists of sausages, bread and Rice Crispies, with sugar lumps when we go to restaurants.

Most of my time is spent talking to imaginary friends on the internet.

I hope you have had a good year too!"

I quote: "April: XX found a load of crack-pot mothers on a website called Mumsnet and has been mysteriously drawn into their grasp. She now spends hours at a time writing to complete strangers asking their opinions on every topic, and, what's worse, actually caring about what they write back. Childcare and domestic duties have reached a minimum....."

Now that's the kind of thing I don't mind reading about in a Xmas letter!

Shame I just made it up then!